Dr. Rose testifies for Aging Gracefully Coalition on housing fragmentation

Yes, good afternoon, committee, and thank you for gathering today for this all too important topic.

I would like to begin with my name is Dr.

Rose.

I represent the Aging Gracefully Coalition of Faith-Based Organizations.

I am here to recommend not just an expansion of the SPREE and DREE programs, but an expansion and streamlining of all housing subsidies

for seniors into a single accessible program.

Like SPREE and DREE, so that seniors will find affordability and eligibility across program structure.

The current system is too fragmented and daunting to navigate, even for those of us who consider ourselves rather

educated.

Eligibility rules do not meet current realities across all subsidy programs where income is concerned.

What we have as a result is a housing instability program that affects all

that affects other areas of life and decreases one's determinants of health.

What we know is that there are over 520

applications for housing by seniors, and that number is growing daily, which includes 300 people on wait lists for HUD 202 apartments

and 220 applications for affordable senior apartments on the Housing Connect.

Thank you.

Your time has expired.

Can I just close out my...

Sure.

Give you 15 seconds.

Okay.

Therefore, to close out, I figured I'd share my face.

Sometimes it's going to be cut off.

To close out these thoughts, and I'll follow up with a written summary of saying,

I recommend drafting policy for seniors that addresses their disability as well as their age-related issues.

status and that goes beyond the income that is normally looked at according to poverty lines as opposed to real economic conditions.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Next, we have Kristen Kostinas.

Okay.

You may begin.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

Wonderful, wonderful.

Can you see me?

No.

All right.

You can begin.

You may begin.