JANICE BARTLEY DIRECTOR OF HOUSING Housing: Affordability And Accessibility Challenges For Seniors
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needed funding for senior developments and rent subsidies to lower monthly rents. The East Baton Rouge Council on Aging acknowledges affordable housing as only one half of the battle for senior housing. Accessibility is clearly another challenge that must become a priority concern and addressed nationwide for all of our seniors. As the physical needs of seniors are changing, the design and equipment used in senior housing must also change to address adequate accessibility needs. Many households are simply not designed or equipped with features needed to support individuals as they become older or have disabilities that may threaten their independence. The additional cost to equip these households add to the already undue financial burdens and hardships that seniors are experiencing.
s our seniors age, thousands are facing the reality of an affordable housing crisis. For many seniors,
the cost of housing is their greatest monthly expense. This expense alone has created a severe cost burden to those individuals and families on a fixed income. Seniors who are housing cost burdened are spending more than one half of their income on housing. These households often have to make tough decisions within their budgets and sometimes make personal sacrifices and do without vital necessities in order to maintain their housing, avoid excessive late fees, lease terminations and or evictions. This intense demand for affordable housing is expected to continue in the future as individuals live longer, the income of individuals decreases and the need for healthcare and medical expenses increase resulting from deteriorating health issues. The East Baton Rouge Council on Aging continues to grapple with the challenges of providing more affordable housing, increased adequate and accessible housing, and the overall decline in much
Housing Challenges
The Lotus Village Senior Residential community with 116 affordable housing units was strategically designed, developed and constructed by the East Baton Rouge Council on Aging in partnership with Gulf Coast Housing Partnership. These units
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