►
Description
The Committee on Intergenerational Affairs & Aging of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at 2:00 PM to hear testimony on the following items:
210091 Resolution authorizing the City Council Committee on Intergenerational Affairs and Aging to hold public hearings examining solutions to the ongoing housing crisis impacting senior Philadelphians.
A
I
now
note
that
the
hour
has
come,
miss
store.
Will
you
please
call
the
roll
to
take
attendance
members
that
are
in
attendance?
Will
please
indicate
that
they
are
present
when
your
name
is
called
also,
please
say
a
few
brief
words
when
responding
so
that
your
image
will
be
displayed
on
screen
when
you
speak.
B
C
A
A
A
Before
we
begin
to
hear
testimony
from
the
witnesses
we
have
today,
everyone
who
has
been
invited
to
the
meeting
to
testify
should
be
aware
that
this
is
a
public
hearing
and
being
recorded,
because
the
hearing
is
public.
Participants
and
viewers
have
no
reasonable
expectation
of
privacy.
By
continuing
to
be
in
this
meeting,
you
are
consenting
to
being
recorded
additionally
prior
to
recognizing
members
for
questions
or
comments
they
may
have
for
witnesses.
A
A
A
The
cobot
19
pandemic
has
been
a
painful
reminder
of
the
ways
in
which
older
adults
are
uniquely
impacted
in
times
of
prices,
and
when-
and
it
has
been,
it
has
made
it
clear
that
housing
is
the
single
most
important
issue.
When
it
comes
to
health,
wellness
and
stability
for
aging
populations,
we
can
no
longer
simply
focus
on
immediate
aid
and
one-time
payments
to
support
seniors
through
difficult
times.
We
need
to
do
much
more.
A
The
pandemic
will
already
the
pandemic
only
worsen,
an
already
dire
situation
in
our
city,
where
seniors
on
fixed
incomes
were
being
pushed
out
of
the
rental
market.
We
must
pivot
to
long-term
solutions
to
housing
insecurity
and
pursue
bold,
lasting
changes,
support
seniors
who
rent
their
homes,
while
the
majority
of
older
adults
in
philadelphia
own
their
homes.
We
know
that
many
are
renters
and
the
city
has
been
has
seen
a
shift
of
being
majority
renters
for
the
first
time
in
2019
and
first
time
in
2019.
A
A
A
I
also
would
like
to
welcome
council
member
thomas
to
today's
hearing.
Thank
you
for
joining
us
today,
council.
Member
and
lastly,
I
want
to
note
that
written
testimony
was
received
from
miss
deborah
gray
yesterday
evening
and
that
testimony
has
been
circulated
to
all
council
members
among
along
with
the
hearing
materials
for
today.
B
I
want
to
just
take
a
minute
to
commend
council
member
brooks
for
her
leadership
on
the
committee
on
aging
and
making
sure
that
we
are
using
the
voices
and
experiences
of
our
of
our
citizens
and
of
our
members
and
residents
to
better
inform
us
about
policy
practices
that
we
need
to
do.
You
know
in
the
coming
months,
one
of
the
things
that
I
wanted
to
you
know
kind
of
underscore
her
councilmember
brooks's
comments,
which
is
that
philadelphia
has
actually
been
a
leader
on
a
number
of
different
areas
in
protecting
seniors.
B
I
am
on
here
to
really
listen
to
the
voices
of
our
seniors.
I
really
want
to
thank
the
chair
for
her
unique
and
determined
focus
that
the
voices
of
our
seniors
will
help
lead
the
path
towards
the
solutions
that
we
need
to
do.
But
I
especially
want
to
thank
the
chair
and
in
particular
this
committee
for
dedicating
itself
to
core
issues
around
our
our
seniors
and
ensuring
that
this
is
a
philadelphia
that
can
that
we
can
truly
call
home
for
as
long
as
we
want
to.
Thank
you
very
much,
madam
chair.
A
E
In
fact,
we
just
had
a
conversation
with
aarp
earlier
today
talking
about
livable
communities,
continuing
some
of
the
work
that
we
started
in
the
previous
term,
but
this
is
such
an
important
issue.
I
remember
from
my
time
before
I
joined
this
body
when
I
was
the
chair
of
the
center
in
the
park,
which
is
a
I
won't
say,
senior.
E
And
that's
why
you
know
based
on
this
need-
and
this
crisis,
specifically
as
it
pertains
to
our
seasoned
citizens,
is
very
important.
Why
I'm
doing
the
legislation
on
the
november
2nd
election
regarding
the
housing
trust
fund
to
provide
additional
dollars
in
the
housing
trust
fund
to
make
sure
we
have
a
dedicated
amount
of
dollars
from
our
general
funds
for
the
housing
trust
fund
to
make
sure
we
provide
more
affordable
housing
production,
but
also
to
preserve
housing
in
our
city
of
philadelphia,
which
is
very
important,
especially
for
our
seasoned
citizens.
E
C
F
Good
afternoon
and
thank
you
to
the
council
and
to
madam
chair
for
the
opportunity
to
join
this
informational
hearing
to
examine
housing
conditions
for
older
philadelphians
and
evaluate
solutions
to
ensure
stable
and
affordable
housing.
My
name
is
patti
pruninber.
I'm
the
senior
housing
attorney
at
justice
in
aging,
justice
and
aging
is
a
national
legal
organization
that
fights
senior
poverty
through
law.
Our
housing
work
focuses
on
creating
housing
stability
and
preventing
homelessness
among
low-income,
older
adults,
and
especially
older
black
and
latinx
renters
and
homeowners.
F
My
comments
will
give
some
context
for
this
that
you
already
know
quite
a
lot
about
and
then
focus
on
changes.
You
might
want
to
consider
to
ensure
that
your
rental
assistance
program
is
reaching
those
older
renters
most
at
risk
of
eviction
or
displacement,
and
that
you
have
reduced
or
eliminated
any
unnecessary
barriers
that
may
hinder
uptake,
especially
for
black
latinx
and
immigrant
older
renters.
F
So
last
year,
justice
and
aging
produced
a
report.
Low-Income
older
adults
face
unaffordable,
rents,
driving
housing,
instability
and
homelessness,
and
I'm
happy
to
provide
a
link
to
that
report
and
it
looked
at
national
data
on
rent
affordability
for
older
renters
before
the
pandemic,
and
I'm
also
going
to
rely
on
an
excellent
local
report.
You
have
from
the
pew
charitable
trust
the
state
of
housing,
affordability
in
philadelphia,
I'm
sure
many
of
you
are
familiar
with
it
and
I'm
going
to
just
combine
those
national
and
local
findings
to
create
a
little
bit
of
level
setting
here.
F
So
we
know
that
older
adults
living
on
low,
fixed
incomes
are
at
high
risk
for
rent
on
affordability
and
that
in
2018,
nationally,
more
than
1.7
million
extremely
low
income,
older
renter
households,
extremely
low
income
is
either
federal
poverty
level
or
30
percent
of
your
area,
median
income.
So
for
your
city
about
twenty
six
thousand
dollars
a
year
and
and
that
those
older
rentals
are
spending
more
than
half
of
their
income
for
rent
and
utilities
in
in
pennsylvania
as
a
whole.
F
F
Many
older
renters
are
living
on
low,
fixed
incomes
and
that
they
have
not
kept
pace
with
the
rapidly
escalating
rents,
as
you
have
already
mentioned,
and
we
also
know
that
older
black
and
older
latinx
renters
are
more
likely
to
be
extremely
low
income
and
they
are
more
likely
to
be
severely
rent
burdened,
and
I
wonder,
laila
if
you
could
put
up
the
first
slide,
which
is
from
the
pew
report.
You
may
be
familiar
with
it.
F
F
F
Just
to
give
you
a
sense
of
how
large
the
gap
is,
and
as
as
several
of
you
have
already
mentioned,
people
were
severely
rent
burdened
before
the
pandemic.
They
fell
further
behind
during
covid
and
while
the
emergency
rental
assistance
program
has
averted
some
of
that
immediate
crisis,
it
is
one-time
money
and
the
structural
problems
still
exist
going
forward.
F
First,
I
would
ask
you
to
consider
converting
the
rebates
at
the
end
of
the
year
to
direct
monthly
payments
to
the
tenant
people
living
at
or
below
the
federal
poverty
level
do
not
have
monthly
income
that
they
can
pay
up
front
and
then
get
reimbursed
at
the
end
of
the
year,
and
if
you
look
at
who
received
the
rebate
in
2017,
85
percent
of
those
who
received
the
rental
rebate
had
income
eight
thousand
dollars
annually
or
less.
So
you
can
understand
why
the
gap
is
so
great.
F
F
It
is
a
significant
barrier
and
then
consider
making
it
available
both
online
and
with
paper
applications
at
places
that
seniors
frequent.
That
could
be
libraries,
meal
sites,
churches,
snap
offices
and
health
clinics,
for
example,
and
the
third
is
to
consider
increasing
the
amount
of
the
rental
assistance.
A
A
G
G
This
council
could
adopt
to
address
these
issues
at
senior
law
center.
We
see
justice
for
older
adults,
we're
the
only
non-profit
organization
in
philadelphia
in
in
pennsylvania,
whose
mission
is
dedicated
solely
to
providing
legal
services
to
seniors
one
of
only
a
few
in
the
nation.
We
provide
free
legal
assistance
to
thousands
of
seniors
each
year,
including
victims
of
elder
abuse
and
financial
exploitation,
grandparents
raising
real
grandchildren
and
elders
facing
housing
crises
and
homelessness.
G
In
our
work,
we
assist
tenants
facing
rece,
resist
seniors,
facing
tenants
rights
issues
such
as
evictions
and
other
threats
to
safe
shelter.
The
kuvin
19
pandemic
has
only
exacerbated
the
housing
epidemic.
The
vast
number
of
of
our
seniors
are
facing,
while
the
housing
crisis
is
something
this
council
is
painfully
aware
of
seniors
face
additional
burdens
compared
to
the
average
tenant.
I
want
to
just
outline.
Some
of
those
many
seniors
have
lived
in
their
rental
properties
for
years,
if
not
decades.
G
G
Much
of
the
housing
for
seniors
is
substandard
issues.
That
would
only
be
a
minor
inconvenience
for
some
tenants
presents
a
real
difficulty
for
a
senior,
for
example.
I
have
one
tenant
right
now
that
I'm
representing
in
court,
where
the
buzzer
in
her
building
doesn't
doesn't
allow
her
to
buzz
people
in
she
has
a
mobility
mobility
issue.
That
means
it's
very
difficult
for
her
to
walk
down
the
stairs,
to
open
the
door
to
let
guests
in
for
most
tenants.
That
would
not
be
a
big
deal,
but
for
her
this
impacts
her.
G
G
G
G
G
G
For
example,
boston
has
established
a
program;
they
call
breathe
easy
at
home
if
there's
a
child
with
asthma
in
the
home,
a
housing
condition
like
mold
that
might
impact
that
child's
health,
their
inspections,
division
will
prioritize
that
case
and
get
inspector
out
immediately.
Philadelphia
could
similarly
prioritize
housing
conditions
that
are
packing
the
health
of
our
elders.
G
I
just
want
to
stress:
it
provides
very
little
money,
it's
a
maximum
of
650
a
year
and
it
requires
seniors,
have
a
very
small
income
to
qualify.
We
we
we
second,
these
recommendations
by
the
prior
speaker.
We,
we
recommend
that
that
the
city
consider
supplementing
state
dollars,
perhaps
increasing
the
amount
of
assistance
available
or
raising
the
eligibility
level
and
providing
assistance
to
seniors
who
are
over
that
minimum
who
are
over
that
minimum
income
by
ideally,
this
would
be
coordinated
with
states,
so
seniors,
don't
have
to
apply
to
multiple
programs.
G
There
are
not
a
number
of
additional
forms
that
could
be
considered
to
keep
elders
in
their
homes
right
now.
The
good
cause
ordinance
only
applies
to
leases
of
less
than
a
year.
Many
seniors
have
been
in
their
homes
for
many
years.
We
could.
The
good
court
cause
requirement
could
be
expanded
to
longer
term
leases
to
leases
of
a
year
or
more.
G
G
H
Good
afternoon
my
name
is
okay,
great.
Thank
you
good
afternoon.
My
name
is
janine
miller
and
I
am
the
director
of
advocacy
and
community
engagement
prior
to
home,
and
I'm
here
this
afternoon
on
behalf
of
sister
mary,
the
executive
director
of
project
home,
as
most
of
you
know,
we're
a
philadelphia-based
non-profit,
that's
working
with
people
in
the
community
to
break
the
cycle
of
homelessness
before
housing,
employment,
healthcare,
education.
H
Our
current
projects
are
creating
units
for
people
who
are
aging,
so
we're
really
glad
to
be
here
today
and
also
people
in
recovery,
exiting
foster
care
and
identify
as
lgbtqia
projects
I
like
to
think
of
it
as
a
like,
if
you
will
need
capital
operating
rent
subsidies,
so
supportive
services,
something
to
fully
meet
the
needs
of
each
of
these
groups,
so
great
for
leadership.
Council,
especially
you,
the
member
brooks
for
hosting
this
year,
to
explore
these
housing
challenges.
H
So
as
many
of
the
residents
living
at
home,
any
point
in
time
are
over
the
age
of
50.
Our
stream
did
not
reach
hotline
staff
is
reporting
even
more
recently
that
many
adults
are
calling
challenges.
Finding
affordable
rental
units,
sometimes
even
having
a
hard
time
finding
units
with
their
whole
housing
budget
in
their
hand.
H
So,
today
we'll
focus
on
our
experience
with
people
who
are
older
and
have
been
homeless.
So
an
example
of
that
is
a
51
year
old
woman
who's
been
on
the
streets
for
more
than
15
years
and
has
had
periodic
episodes
being
housed
and
having
a
job.
She's
gone
to
a
great
length
to
keep
up
her
fear
and,
however,
has
had
a
history
of
incarceration
mental
health
ability
and
substance
dependence,
and
this
has
resulted
in
marriage
in
multiple
states.
H
H
B
H
A
F
F
They
say
we're
gonna
pay
enough
towards
your
rent
to
achieve
an
after
rent
income
of
747
for
one
person
and
1300
for
a
couple,
and
you
can
apply
online
or
there's
a
printed
application
and
the
rent
subsidy
goes
on
a
monthly
basis
directly
to
the
tenant.
So
that's
one
example:
there
are
there's
one
in
la
there's.
Several
others
across
the
country
and
cities
are
trying,
and
I
think
it's
important
to
recognize
that
rent
assistance
is
a.
F
A
F
Well,
it's
a
great
question.
You
know
I
think,
as
we've
seen
with
the
emergency
rental
assistance
program,
many
landlords
are
not
willing
to
participate
in
a
government,
assisted
rental
program
and
so
sending
the
money
directly
to
the
tenant
doesn't
require
landlord
participation
and
even
with
source
of
income.
Anti-Discrimination
laws
such
as
the
one
philadelphia
has.
We
know
that
enforcement
is
uneven
at
best,
so
it
just
eliminates
one
barrier
to
participation.
F
I
think,
in
addition,
we
know
that
keeping
people
in
their
homes
makes
a
lot
more
sense
than
them
having
to
move
and
it's
much
more
cost
effective.
So
if
you
can
provide
assistance
directly
to
a
tenant
and
rather
than
trying
to
wait
till
they
become
unhoused
and
then
get
them
relocated
and
perhaps
get
a
section,
8
voucher
attached
to
them
and
perhaps
needing
additional
services.
At
that
point,
this
is
a
very
cost
effective
strategy
to
just
put
money
in
people's
pockets.
F
Many
people
are
paying
90
percent
and
more
of
their
income
for
rent.
So
I
think
that's
one,
and
if
you
look
at
that
data
again,
32
000
renters
got
a
total
of
about
18
million
dollars
and
the
overwhelming
majority
of
those
receiving
it
had
household
income
of
eight
thousand
dollars
or
less.
So
that's
a
that's
a
thing
that
will
prevent
people
from
being
able
to
take
advantage
of
an
end
of
your
rebate.
A
A
I
agree
that
the
city
could
really
work
to
tailor
a
rent
rebate
program
so
that
it's
helpful
for
seniors
facing
rising
rents
and
displacement
and
you're
right
if
there
could
be
a
way
to
utilize
rents
for
seniors
who
have
been
in
their
units
for
a
while,
but
are
at
risk
of
facing
unreasonable
rent
increase.
I
think
we
should
really
find
a
way
to
do
that.
A
You
mentioned
that
there
have
been
a
trend
throughout
the
pandemic
of
illegal
lockouts
and
landlords
being
unable
to
make
repairs
when
they
want
their
tenants
to
move
out,
but
we
have
laws
to
protect
against
legal,
illegal
lockouts
and
tenants
have
protections
for
reasonable
impaired
repairs.
Don't
they.
G
So,
yes,
the
you
know,
there's
there's
what's
the
law
in
the
books
and
what's
the
laws
on
the
streets
right,
so
unfortunately,
many
tenants
don't
know
that
lockouts
are
that
lockouts
are
legal
without
a
court
order
and
many
landlords
don't
know
that
either
you
know
we.
We
have
noticed
that
this
is
primarily
happening
with
smaller
landlords.
With
you
know
one
or
two
or
three
units
who
don't
get
I
and
you
know
our
experience
has
been
that
honestly,
a
lot
of
them
simply
do
not
know
that
that
is
illegal.
G
G
G
Many
of
the
shelters
that
we
have
in
the
city
are
not
appropriate
for
seniors
with
with
disabilities,
and
many
of
the
access
to
emergency
housing
is
often
through
the
shelter
system.
So
people
have
to
go
to
a
shelter
for
a
couple
weeks
or
a
couple
months
and
then
they
would
slot
it
in
to
to
an
affordable
unit.
G
G
So,
unfortunately,
this
is
not
a
place
where
you
know.
I
think,
if
we,
if
we
cannot
sort
of,
have
the
police
helping
on
a
more
expedited
basis,
if
we
can't
have
l
and
I
helping
in
a
more
expedited
basis,
you
know
the
you
know
filing
fair
housing
complaint.
The
fair
housing
commission
has
been
wonderful,
but
they're
not
set
up
for
emergencies.
You
know
they
have
a
process
that
requires
a
complaint
and
then
time
to
respond,
and
then
you
know
it
once
that
complaint
goes
forward
to
a
hearing.
G
A
B
Thank
you
so
much,
madam
chair.
So,
first
of
all,
thank
you,
mr
hyman,
for
the
work
that
you've
done
at
senior
law
center.
It's
been,
you
know
incredibly
important,
you've
been
an
incredibly
important
partner
as
we
try
to
figure
out
some
important
programs
like
right
council.
Among
others,
can
you
you
know.
The
city
is
supposed
to
be
unrolling
right
council
in
targeted,
zip
codes.
Can
you
talk
a
little
bit
about
how
those
programs
could
play
a
role?
G
G
Many
of
these
habitability
issues
that
we're
discussing
that
you
know
that's
not
something
that
right
to
counsel
is
going
to
cure
because
right
to
counsel
is
about
seniors
facing
evictions
having
an
attorney
represent
them
in
an
eviction,
so
senior
law
center
right
now,
for
example,
and
I
believe
cls
and
other
legal
nonprofits
in
philadelphia
have
the
same
limitation.
We
are
really
not
taking
very
many
affirmative
cases.
G
We're
not.
We
are
mostly
almost
almost
without
exception.
Only
taking
case
is
defending
against
evictions.
So
when
people
have
habitability
issues,
the
landlord
is
breaching
their
lease
there's
a
you
know.
The
lease
is
a
contract
where
the
landlord
promises
to
keep
the
unit
habitable
and
the
municipal
court
can
hear
cases
seeking
rent
rebates,
rent
reductions.
G
Tenants
can
file
affirmative
cases
but
right
to
count,
but
there's
no
right
to
have
an
attorney
help
tenants,
file
those
cases.
So
I
think
that's
that's,
definitely
a
limitation,
and
we
actually,
we
were
discussing
that
today
there
was
a
municipal
court
committee
meeting
and
we
were
discussing
sort
of
trying
to
to
help
tenants
who
are
operating
pro
se
through
that
filing
process.
G
To
make
sure
the
municipal
court
is
addressing
those
complaints,
so
I
think
the
court
recognizes
that
that's
a
limitation,
you
know,
and
the
other
thing
is
that
I
think
now
sort
of
moving
into
sort
of
how
this
can
help.
We,
you
know,
we've
noticed
that
tenants
who
have
attorneys
outcomes
are
better
right.
The
money
judgments
are
lower
time
in
housing
is
extended.
G
They
they
get
the
time
they
need
to
search
for
alternative
housing,
so
I
think,
having
attorneys
present
is
helping
and
as
the
right
to
counsel
legislation
is
implemented
and
as
it's
expanded,
I
think
it
will
help
more,
but
I
I
think
it's
is
more
focused
on
is
so
focused
on
the
end
of
the
process.
When
someone
is
already
focused
facing
eviction,
I
think
that
we
need
to
put
some
attention
on
the
other
issues
facing
facing
senior
facing
senior
tenants
around
the
illegal
evictions.
G
We
talked
about
around
these
habitability
issues
and
I
think
the
you
know
the
fair:
how
the
fair
housing,
commission
and
the
municipal
courts
are
recognizing
these
issues.
I
think
we
are
moving
forward,
so
I
don't
want
to
leave
the
impression
that
things
are
completely
hopeless,
because
I
think
these
issues
are
being
recognized
and
being
addressed.
A
I
I
I
am
67
years
old
and
a
proud
citizen
of
the
country.
I
first
came
to
the
united
states
and
philadelphia
in
1994
as
a
tourist
and
feel
in
love
with
the
city.
I
then
traveled
back
to
switzerland
and
awaited
my
green
card
soon
trifelter
I
become
a
citizen
of
the
country,
and
I
doing
so.
I
swear
to
work
hard
and
serve
this
country.
I
I
I
I
I
All
landlords
are
seeking
rent
over
800
for
one
bathroom
and
one
healthy
security
deposit
for
three
months.
I
you
gotta,
pay
three
months
security
deposit
first
month
last
month
I
have
no
money
in
saving
after
my
bill
each
month
to
be
able
to
provide
such
large
amount.
I
am
scared
I
am
worried
to
be
in
the
street.
I
A
I
We
need
help.
We
got
to
do
something
for
the
people
I
want
to
serve
this
country.
I
want
to
work
hard
now.
I
am
disabled
by
myself.
What
I'm
gonna
do
he
harassed
me
come
like
7
45
in
the
morning
clock
my
door,
you
gotta,
move
you
gotta,
move
it's
harassment
and
you
know
from
I
can't
find
apartment
cheaper.
I
look
at
all
the
three
months
ask
about.
I
get
eight
months
for
20
years.
I
can't
see
my
family
overseas.
I
I
can't
see
my
brother,
my
sister,
anybody,
because
I
can
save
money
800th
month.
What
I'm
gonna
do
with
this
pay,
the
rent
stay
home.
That's
it
how
I
need
help.
I
wasn't
actually
section
eight.
They
have
for
senior
people
to
help
for
half
run.
They
don't
want
to
help
me.
I
don't
know
why
they
said
me.
No
you
you
are
by
yourself.
We
have
family
with
kids.
What
do
you
mean?
I
need
help
too.
I
am
person
I
am
citizen
in
this
country.
I
I
have
the
right
to
ask
for
help,
but
I
can't
get
anything.
I
can
sleep
and
read
every
day
three
four
o'clock
in
the
morning.
I
can
get
something
because
I
am
stressing,
I
think
too
much
what
I'm
gonna
do
if
he
put
me
in
the
street.
What
I'm
getting
stress
stress
yesterday,
I
see
doctor,
he
told
me
be
careful
for
your
health
because
you're
too
much
stressed
because
I
don't
have
any
other
solutions
I
need
help.
I
I
need
help
who's
going
to
help
me.
I
go
to
social
agents,
neither
I
go
to
social
20
and
then
it's
like
that.
I
think
you
know
they
can't
do
anything
you
just
let
me
be
patient,
we
don't
have.
Actually
we
can.
We
don't
have
money
for
pay,
for
the
assistant
runs
money.
We
gotta
be
patient.
What
do
you
mean?
I
I
J
Hi
there
hello
it's
chair,
council,
chair
and
council
members.
Thank
you
for
allowing
me
to
speak
here
today.
My
name
is
therese
juliana
and
I
live
in
roxbury
for
35
years.
I
volunteered
with
aid
for
friends
as
a
cook,
a
visitor
and
a
regional
coordinator,
bringing
home-cooked
meals
and
friendly
visits
to
the
homebound
and
isolated
that
work
brought
me
into
the
homes
of
close
to
100
people,
almost
all
elderly,
with
varying
degrees
of
disability
in
poverty.
J
J
J
They
are
estranged
from
their
family.
The
brothers
had
rented
a
run
down
row
home
for
years
for
535
dollars
a
month
and
we're
barely
getting
by
on
their
fixed
incomes
with
no
food
in
the
fridge.
Well,
aid
for
friends
took
care
of
the
food
issue
and
I
visited
them
weekly,
but
in
2017
everything
changed.
J
J
J
This
was
meant
to
be
a
weigh
station
until
they
could
get
into
senior
subsidized
housing
in
2017
we
were
told
it
was
a
three-year
wait.
So
joe
got
the
book
from
pca
and
he
said
he
applied
well.
He
must
have
made
an
error
and
applied
to
a
facility
with
only
a
few
spaces,
because
he
tells
me
he
is
now
number
76
on
the
list.
J
J
However,
the
building
where
the
brothers
currently
live
it's
being
sold
and
their
lease
expires
in
11
days,
I
have
tried
frantically
to
find
them
a
new
home,
a
one-bedroom
apartment.
On
the
first
floor
for
a
thousand
dollars,
I
mean
we're
still
chipping
in
they
want
to
stay
in
roxboro
and
it
will
be
more
convenient
for
me
to
look
after
them
if
they
were
close
by
no
luck,
I've
contacted
property
managers
realtors
and
the
local
senior
center.
The
few
who
have
returned
my
calls
refer
me
to
online
resources
like
facebook,
marketplace,
craigslist
and
zumba.
J
The
search
process
is
slow
and
frustrating
for
me
a
person
comfortable
with
technology,
but
it
is
a
major
barrier
for
someone
like
joe
trying
to
search
on
his
phone
with
a
limited
data
plan.
Most
applications
charge
a
fee
for
a
credit
check
which
joe
will
surely
fail,
while
roxboro
is
rife
with
new
construction.
J
These
apartment
buildings,
along
ridge
avenue,
are
far
out
of
reach
of
seniors
in
desperate
need
of
housing
like
joe
and
martin
there's
one
ray
of
hope.
A
realtor
from
my
church
is
now
trying
to
help
us
if
we
can
find
an
affordable
place,
we'll
co-sign
and
pay
another
year's
rent
up
front
to
get
the
brothers
into
an
apartment
and
keep
them
from
becoming
homeless,
we're
even
looking
for
an
affordable
condo
to
buy,
so
we
can
act
as
their
landlords,
but
we're
not
find
anything
in
their
price
range
or
ours.
J
I
figure
there
had
to
be
someone
whose
job
it
was
to
help
seniors,
navigate
this
process,
someone
who
could
take
joe
by
the
hand
and
act
as
a
case
manager
making
sure
he
was
doing
everything
he
could
possibly
do
to
secure
housing
pca
said
they
didn't
offer
that
service.
No
one
does,
but
surely
someone
should
joe
and
marty
have
me
and
my
husband
trying
to
help,
but
what
about
other
seniors?
There
are
other
tragedies
out
there
behind
other
doors,
but
we
can
only
personally
deal
with
one
of
them.
J
J
J
J
A
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
testimony
and
just
being
a
good
neighbor
and
a
support
I
mean
we
said
to
say
we
need
more
neighbors,
like
you
just
paying
attention
to
our
neighbors
and
please
stay
in
contact
with
my
office
and
whatever
we
can
do
to
help
you
navigate
the
situation.
What
I've
found
is
so
many
more
joey
marty's
in
this
city
and
yeah.
I
do
have
a
sense
of
responsibility
to
make
sure
we
do
something
to
help
them.
J
Thank
you,
madam
chair.
One
more
thing.
I
think
everybody
would
help
if
they
saw
the
need.
I
saw
the
need
because
it
was
my
volunteer
gig
to
knock
on
the
door
and
go
inside.
I
think
if
people's
more
people
saw
need,
they
would
do
what
they
could
to
help.
Thank
god,
you
know
that
we're
able
to
help
them,
but
I
mean
it's
just
nuts:
it's
nobody
returns
our
calls.
J
H
That
was
also
paired
with
intensive
case
management
services,
so
she
has
has
gone
back
and
forth
on
and
off
the
streets
and
has
been
able
to
connect
with
our
street
outreach
staff
she's
now
back
on
track
and
is
in
a
peer
specialist
program,
so
helping
other
people
with
histories
of
homelessness
and
behavioral
challenges
and
is
really
using
her
experience
to
help
other
people
like
her.
So
across
our
system,
we're
really
trying
to
serve
more
people
like
a
who
can
get
the
housing
stability
they
need
and
also
move
into
their
own
places.
H
H
The
office
of
homeless
services
has
forecasted
that
adults
in
shelters
over
the
age
of
55
will
continue
to
grow,
and
different
studies
have
shown
that
somebody,
the
the
cognitive
decline
and
mobility
impairments
of
somebody
who
has
experienced
homelessness
is
generally
those
impacts,
end
up
making
it
so
that
people
are
like
20
years
older
than
they
actually
are
so
a
person
who's
homeless.
That's
50
might
actually
present
with
some
of
the
same
vulnerabilities
that
somebody
who's
actually
70..
H
We
we
need
these
solutions
that
are
targeted
towards
our
aging
homeless
population,
and
that
means
housing
and
supports
that
are
appropriate
to
both
the
physical
and
behavioral
health
needs.
Dennis
culhane,
dr
dennis
culhane,
who
I
recommend
as
a
very
strong
resource
for
us
to
pull
into
this
conversation
more
intensely.
H
H
We
also
want
to
ensure
that
access
to
housing
and
services
is
designed
to
meet
the
needs
of
people
who
are
are
black,
indigenous
and
people
of
color,
and
to
correct
the
systemic
racism
that
disproportionately
leaves
bypoc
people
without
appropriate
recovery.
Healthcare,
education,
employment
services
and
certainly
without
access
to
permanent
housing
council,
has
taken
great
leadership
around
expanding
funding
with
the
neighborhood
preservation
initiative
and
other
increased
federal
resources
and
we're
grateful
for
those
we'd
like
to
see
some
of
those
resources
continue
to
be
made
available
for
people
who
are
homeless
and
aging.
H
So,
in
conclusion,
I
just
really
want
to
say
that
we
do
need
a
services
strategy,
that's
targeted
towards
older
philadelphians,
to
help
leverage
the
capital
and
operating
expenses
that
will
help
people
stay
housed.
We
understand
that
you
know,
council,
you
know
and
coming
out
of
this
pandemic.
We
want
to
make
sure
that
there
are
the
services
and
the
housing
to
to
support
people
who
have
these
aging
population
with
more
medical
needs,
and
if
you
know,
we
can
be
of
any
assistance
in
crafting
these
strategies.
A
Thank
you
so
much
for.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
So
much
for
sharing
your
comments
on
the
pro
on
the
behalf
of
project
home,
my
team
and
I
just
recently
visited
residents
at
project
home
and
we
were
thrilled
to
see
folks
receive
stable
housing
as
well
as
enjoy
like
just
being
able
to
part
being
a
part
of
their
story
and
just
enjoy
there's
so
many
residents
there
felt
in
having
their
own
place
to
call
home.
A
We
had
a
tour
and
the
gentleman
that
gave
us
his
tour.
He
just
was
so
excited
about
his
ability
to
care
for
the
plants
that
he
had
and
he
prepared
for
all
the
plants
around
the
whole
facility,
as
well,
as
you
know,
having
his
own
kitchen,
and
he
talked
about
being
there
a
few
months,
but
just
last
year.
A
This
time
he
didn't
have
any
clothes,
and
now
he
has
a
place
to
hang
clothes
and
and
more
than
enough
in
his
terms
compared
to
what
he
had
before,
and
that
story
is
what
we
want
to
see
and
what
other
folks
to
be
able
to
share
and
yeah.
Thank
you
for
the
work
that
you
guys
are
doing
over
project
home
and
we
look
forward
to
continue
to
work
with
you.
B
B
I
know
how
hard
it
is
to
be
able
to
come
up
in
the
public
to
be
able
to
have
to
tell
these
deeply
personal
stories,
and
you
know
a
reminder
of
course
that
this
moment
in
the
life
is
not
the
defining
one.
You
know
it's
actually
a
long
story
of
history
and
engagement
with
our
city,
a
lifetime
of
memories
that
we
want
to
hold
on
to.
So
I
want
to
first
acknowledge
and
thank
those
members
who
are.
I
think
it
was
mr
ahima
and
miss
juliana
who
are
talking
about
philadelphians.
B
B
You
know
we
have
to
recognize
that
we're
not
passive
bystanders,
while
markets
kind
of
spin
out
of
control
and
many
of
our
most
important
holders
of
our
history
of
tradition
of
family
are
made
vulnerable
or
left
behind,
or
out
of
that.
I
know
that
later
on.
In
this
hearing
we'll
be
hearing
from
some
of
our
city
agencies,
who
are
always
being
told
how
much
more
we
can
do.
B
But
again,
one
of
the
things
that
I
think
the
chair-
and
I
are
committed
to
is
not
basing
our
work
simply
on
the
capacity
and
existing
amount
of
resources
that
we
have
part
of
hearings
like
this
is
to
recognize
that
we
have
to.
We
have
to
adapt
our
resources
to
what
the
needs
of
our
communities
actually
are,
and
if
that
means
that
we
have
to
reallocate
or
we
have
to
leverage
for
more
either
at
the
state
or
at
the
federal
level
or
through
private
efforts.
B
C
K
K
I'm
pleased
to
be
joined
by
my
colleagues
at
phdc,
ryan,
ambrose,
npi,
director
and
ali
mooney
manager
of
housing
programs
I'll
be
presenting
testimony
on
resolution
number
210091,
and
I
do
want
to
echo
what
council
person
gim
just
said.
Thank
you,
the
previous
testimony,
and
she
is
absolutely
right
that
we
do
absolutely
need
to
continue
to
advocate
on
a
state
and
local
state
and
federal
level
for
increased
resources
and
support
to
really
fully
fund
rental
assistance
and
and
other
programs
and
pilots
that
I'm
going
to
talk
about.
K
And
you
know
my
colleague
liz
is
working
on
over
at
ohs.
It's
just
absolutely
necessary.
You
know,
as
we
you
know
have
talked
there
are
so
many
challenges
facing
renters,
and
you
know
here.
Philadelphia
does
support
utility
assistance
and
eviction
prevention
and
diversion
in
which
many
of
seniors
absolutely
benefit.
K
The
city
also
funds
the
production
of
new
and
preservation
of
affordable
housing,
and
you
know
I
am
pleased
to
report
at
the
the
latest
allocations
from
phfa
for
new
projects,
affordable
projects
for
philadelphia.
We
were
awarded
nine.
The
city
supported
nine
of
the
fourteen
that
reached
13
that
recently
received
awards,
and
I
I
will
am
happy
to
to
report,
although
it's
still
never
enough,
that
all
five
of
the
new
production
senior
projects
that
we
sent
up
were
funded
and
the
one
preservation
of
multi-family
rental
housing
was
also
funding.
K
K
It
is
a
cost-effective
way
of
keeping
tenants
in
their
home
and,
while
our
program
doesn't
specifically
target
seniors,
seniors
will
be
among
those
who
benefit.
I'm
also
pleased
to
talk
about
a
direct
cash
assistance
program
that
we're
looking
to
pilot
the
idea
here
in
philadelphia.
The
idea
is
that
immediate
needs
of
low
income
households
vary
month
to
month,
one
month
it
may
be
rent
another
month,
utilities
and
another
month
it
may
be.
A
D
So
daiquiri
is
here
with
me.
I
it's,
I
feel
very
emotional.
Having
listened
to
all
of
this
testimony
because
it
just
it
people,
nobody
should
experience
homelessness,
but
especially
as
we
get
older
and
our
bodies
aren't
what
they
used
to
be
the
idea
of
of
being
homeless
or,
even
frankly,
living
in
a
homeless
shelter.
We
don't
have
people
sleep
on
the
floor
anymore.
D
We've
made
a
lot
of
progress
on
the
quality
of
our
shelters
now
and
then,
if
it's,
you
know
zero
degrees
out,
we
might
throw
some
some
some
mats
down
on
a
church
floor,
but
by
and
large
people
are
are
able
to
sleep
in
in
beds
or
on
cots
and
shelters,
but
I
think
we,
I
think,
janine
really
talked
about
the
challenges
facing
people
who
are
experiencing
homelessness
as
they
get
older
and
homeless.
Shelters
are
not
the
right
place
for
people
to
age
with
dignity
and
safety.
D
We
are
not
equipped
to
do
medication
management,
we're
not
equipped
to
do
the
range
of
nutritionally
balanced
meals.
We
don't
have
the
staff
ratios
to
meet
their
needs
and
it's
heart-wrenching
to
be
in
that
situation.
I
mean
shelters
are
a
matter
of
life
and
death
and
we
have
to
have
them
in
the
absence
of
affordable
housing,
but
I
think
we
can
all
agree
that
it's
even
the
best,
shelters
and
and
many
of
our
shelters
are
very
caring
places
are
not
the
right
place
for
people
to
age.
D
D
What
we
found
with
a
lot
of
our
older
adults
who
are
coming
in
especially
those
coming
in
from
the
street
and
we've
had
people
as
old
as
95,
we
had
one
person
who
was
85.
She
was
sleeping
on
the
carousel
at
the
airport.
If
you
can
imagine,
but
what
we
found
is
that
sometimes
a
process
for
them
to
go
into
their
own
apartment
and
that
they
don't
want
to
share
information
about
their
income
they're,
they
they're.
Not,
they
don't
trust
people,
probably
with
good
reason.
D
But
thanks
to
the
prioritization
that
we
set
as
of
today,
200
people
who
are
65
and
older
have
moved
into
their
own
apartments
and
they
they
have
their
own
places.
And
this
fulfills
our
commitment
that
continuing
to
fulfill
our
commitment
that
we
made
that
no
one
who
was
highly
vulnerable
to
covid
because
of
their
age
or
physical
condition,
would
go
back
involuntarily
to
a
congregate
site
or
to
the
streets.
And
we
are
actually
a
national
leader
on
this.
D
The
guidance
is
just
coming
out
for
something
that
we've
been
doing
now
for
16
months
and
the
I'm
gonna
ask
daiquiri
just
to
add
a
little
color
to
that
in
just
a
moment.
But
I
wanted
to
because
she's
really
daiquiri
is
the
person
who
has
really
led
the
team
who
has
made
it
possible
for
these
200
folks
to
move
into
their
own
places,
and
I
wanted
you
to
meet
her
and
see
her
because
sometimes
we
are
hidden
and
also
to
hear
a
little
bit
from
her.
D
But
before
that,
I
do
want
to
talk
about
one
other
program
we
have
in
ours.
In
our
last
year.
In
our
shelter
system,
we
had
about
479
people
who
were
65
and
older
and,
as
janine
said,
people
who
have
experienced
homelessness
age
faster
and
have
more
deteriorated
health
conditions,
sometimes
as
much
as
20
years
or
more
beyond
their
chronological
age,
and
we
have
never
had
the
wherewithal
to
advocate
for
them
to
get
into
long-term
care
or
personal
care
to
which
they're
entitled.
D
And
we
now
have
created
a
program
that
we
call
peace
and
which
is
a
a
little
bit
of
a
crazy
acronym.
But
it's
the
partners
establishing
accessible
and
affordable
housing
and
caring
for
frail
older
adults
empathically,
and
we
now
have
a
team
of
cnas
social
workers
whose
job
is
helping
assess
people
who
are
in
the
homeless
system
to
see
if
they
have
a
need
to
go
into
long-term
care
or
to
personal
care
or
to
get
waiver
services
in
in
a
community
based
setting,
and
then
they
advocate
for
them
to
get
into
that.
D
And
the
the
bottom
line
here
is
choice.
It's
really
about
choice,
and
so
far
we've
had
66
people
move
out
of
congregate
sites
into
places
of
their
choosing.
Often
with
friends,
one
person
went
with
her
daughter,
siblings,
into
places
where
they
can
sleep
in
a
real
bed
and
get
meals
that
are
nutritionally
appropriate
for
their
age,
get
the
on
the
on-site
medical
care,
recreation,
all
of
the
things
that
that
they
need
to
be
able
to
age
safely
and
with
dignity.
D
So
I've
sent
allison
the
information
about
how
to
access
the
peace
program,
and
if
I
might
just
very,
very
briefly
indulge
you
I'd
like
to
ask
daiquiri
to
introduce
herself
and
just
tell
you
a
little
bit
about
when
people
do
end
up
falling
into
homelessness,
which
we
don't
want
anybody
to
experience.
What
what
she
had.
Her
team
have
done
to
help
them
get
into
a
permanent
housing
situation.
L
First,
I
want
to
say
good
afternoon
and
to
council
member
brooks
thank
you
so
much
for
allowing
us
to
come
today.
My
name
is
daiquiri
robinson,
I
am
the
director
of
long-term
housing
for
the
office
of
homeless
services
when
we
encounter
any
participant
who
is
vulnerable
for
covid
and
those
who
are
especially
those
who
are
older.
We
also
have
to
remember
that
some
of
these
folks
have
been
homeless
for
a
very
long
time.
L
So
when
they
come
to
us,
they
may
have
no
documentation,
we're
talking,
no
ids,
no
social
security
cards,
no
birth
certificates
and
is,
and
those
systems
because
of
covhead,
has
slowed
down
so
much
that
the
case
managers
that
are
working
with
them.
It
takes
time
to
get
those
things.
So,
when
they're
matched
to
a
place,
some
places
may
require
income.
L
We
have
some
seniors
who
don't
want
to
give
your
income
information,
but
again,
this
is
all
about
developing
relationships
and
partnerships
so
that
those
that
we
work
with
can
be
can
have
trust
in
us
to
get
them
what
we
promised
and
that's
basically,
what
we
do.
We
have
case
management
case
conferences
every
week
with
the
case
managers,
so
case.
Managers
now
know
that
as
soon
as
someone
comes
through
their
doors
and
they
start
their
assessments,
they
know
to
ask
the
questions.
What
documentations
do
you
have?
We
do
have
to
be
honest.
L
We
do
have
problems
with
those
folks
who
are
undocumented,
we're
trying
to
figure
out
ways
to
get
them
housed
as
well.
We
find
that,
with
the
peace
project,
we've
we've
seen
that
that
is
working
because
a
lot
of
our
seniors
go
into
the
hospital.
Some
have
gone
into
the
hospital
and
passed
away,
so
they
never
got
a
chance
to
have
their
own
place.
We've
have
some
that
have
gone
into
the
hospital
and
had
major
surgeries,
so
the
peace
projects
definitely
does
work.
I
just
want
to
give
you
all
once
quick
story.
L
We
had
one
feisty,
miss
d,
she's,
very
feisty,
and
she
was
at
the
cover
prevention
space
at
the
hotels
she
was
out
protesting
with
the
advocates
when
it
was
time
for
us
to
move
folks
out,
and
she
is
now
in
her
own
apartment.
And
the
thing
I
say
about
her
is
that
everybody
was
like
she's,
very
feisty
as
we're
trying
to
work
with
her.
L
We
can't
work
with
her
but
she's,
just
somebody
who
wanted
to
be
heard,
and
I
and
she
would
call
me-
and
I
would
talk
to
her-
I
said-
listen
work
with
your
case
manager,
she's
going
to
do
abc
for
you
and
that's
all
that
any
of
our
participants
want.
They
want
to
be
heard,
they
want
to
be
loved
and
they
want
somebody
to
really
believe
that
believe
in
them.
So
thank
you
again
and
we
hope
that
you
can
that
what
we're
doing
at
the
office
of
homeless
services
is
making
things
a
lot
better.
Thank
you.
A
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
If
you
have
a
few
questions,
my
first
question
is
for
melissa
law.
I
want
to
thank
you
for
highlighting
the
shallow
rent
program
in
the
neighborhood
prevention
initiative
that
just
recently
passed
through
city
council.
I
I
think
many
have
highlighted
today
that
direct
cash
assistance
is
a
strong
way
to
support
those
living
on
fixed
incomes.
A
K
K
A
I
have
another
question
for
you:
the
city
has
been
working,
like
you
just
mentioned,
to
distribute
really
through
the
emergency
rental
assistance
program
throughout
this
pandemic.
What
are
some
of
the
best
practices
that
will
be
implemented
to
ensure
the
effectiveness
of
funding
through
the
mpi
rent
assistance
program?.
A
Thank
you.
Thank
you
so
much
for
that.
My
next
questions
are
for
either
liz
hirsch
or
daiquiri
robinson
nice
to
meet
you
miss
robinson.
I
want
to
speak
about
the
emergency
housing
vouchers
forthcoming
that
are
part
of
the
american
rescue
plan,
the
federal
recovery
plan.
How
will
this
program
benefit
vulnerable,
older
adults
who
are
homeless,
find
long-term,
stable,
renting
rental
housing,
great.
D
Question
we're
thrilled
about
the
city
of
philadelphia
got
863
vouchers
that
are
for
people
experiencing
homelessness,
not
not
not
that
the
pha
waiting
list
isn't
critical,
but
it's
great
to
have
these
vouchers,
so
our
older
adults
are
certainly
a
priority
population
and
just
in
the
process
that
daiquiri
described,
we
will
be
matching
folks
to
these
vouchers.
So
it
adds
to
the
supply
of
affordable
rentals
and,
as
you
know,
they
are
tenant
based.
D
A
D
A
Okay,
that
includes
panel
testimony
for
this
resolution.
We
will
now
begin
hearing
from
individuals
who
registered
to
provide
public
comment.
Ms
store,
will
you
please
read
the
name
of
the
first
person
registered
for
public
comment,
andre
del
valle
good
afternoon,
mr
del
valle.
Please
state
your
name
and
proceed
with
your
testimony.
M
M
Although
today's
hearing
is
informational,
we
want
to
share
some
of
the
initiatives
that
the
pennsylvania
apartment
association,
in
collaboration
with
our
members,
having
continued
work
on
to
assist
seniors
across
the
city
of
philadelphia.
During
these
unprecedented
times
at
the
onset
of
this
pandemic,
our
members
organized
and
implemented
crisis
response
procedures
to
ensure
buildings
were
cleaned,
sanitized
and
sanitized
daily,
while
proactively
closing
pools,
gyms
and
other
amenities
to
limit
the
spread
of
the
kovic
19
virus.
M
Our
members
implemented
social
distancing
policies
and
procedures
to
keep
its
residents
safe,
especially
our
seniors,
with
mandated
mask
wearing
bilingual
signage
posted
on
their
properties,
along
with
covid
19
safety
guidelines
to
ensure
everyone
was
doing
their
part
to
flatten
the
curve.
Many
of
our
members
proactively
met
with
residents
who
are
facing
financial
hardships
and
began.
Creating
and
to
this
day
continue
to
make
payment
plan
agreements
and
once
the
american
rescue
plan
funds
were
made
available,
urged
tenants
to
apply
for
the
emergency
rental
assistance
funds
which
were
made
available
by
president
biden's.
M
These
e-rep
funds
continue
to
assist
landlords
who
have
not
received
payments
in
over
a
year
and
a
half,
while
also
assisting
tenants
by
ensuring
that
tenants
arrears
were
paid
off
as
they
had
the
ability
to
pay
up
to
12
months
back
and
six
months
forward
for
any
rent
or
utilities.
Given
the
financial
hardship
brought
on
by
the
global
19
coven
19
pandemic,
while
the
ewrap
program
still
has
its
challenges,
the
apartment
association
has
and
continues
to
work
closely
with
community
community
legal
services.
M
These
efforts
are
not
limited
solely
to
philadelphia,
as
we
have
worked
with
dhs
at
the
state
level
and
have
been
on
calls
with
the
white
house
as
well
to
ensure
the
assistance
gets
to
those
in
need
locally.
We
work
we
work
closely
with
you,
chairperson,
brooks,
and
your
team
on
the
recently
implemented.
Renter's
access
act
to
ensure
that
applicants
are
not
solely
denied
based
on
a
credit
score
or
an
eviction
record.
M
All
of
this
is
to
say
that
this
year
alone,
we
have
been
busy
working
closely
with
elected
officials
across
both
sides
of
the
aisle
and
at
all
levels
of
government.
Finding
that
balance
to
assist
both
landlords
and
tenants
and
navigating
what
will
be
our
new
norm,
including
our
seniors,
who
have
passed
the
torch
to
us,
many
of
whom
may
be
veterans
grandparents,
many
who
have
taken
the
role
on
as
parents
may
be
abled
or
disabled,
who
have
in
some
variation
help
move
our
city
and
state
forward.
M
The
information
this
informational
hearing
is
an
opportunity
for
us
to
share
what
we've
worked
on,
but
also
an
opportunity
to
offer
insight
from
our
members
perspective
to
promote
cross
collaboration
with
this
legislative
body.
I
look
for
you
know.
I've
been
listening
in,
and
I've
heard
a
lot
of
testimony
today
from
the
speakers
and
look
forward
to
opportunities
to
continue
to
work,
not
only
with
you,
chairperson,
brooks,
but
the
different
folks
that
testified
today.
I
thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
today
and
I'm
happy
to
answer
any
questions
you
need
to
have.
A
C
Thank
you,
chair,
brooks
and
hi
to
all
the
council
members
today.
Thank
you
so
much
for
holding
this
public
hearing.
It's
been
great
to
hear
so
many
stories
and
solution
options,
and
I
would
just
like
to
share
a
little
bit
about
the
experience
with
some
of
my
clients.
So
my
name
is
meg
finley.
I'm
the
director
of
senior
services
and
nutrition
programs
at
lutheran
settlement
house
we're
a
multi-service
nonprofit
in
fishtown.
C
Through
my
experience,
working
with
older
adults
in
lsh's
senior
community
center
family
caregiver
support
program
and
food
pantry,
it
is
clear
that
affordable
senior
housing
is
a
major
challenge
and
barrier
for
older
philadelphians
to
thrive
in
the
stage
of
life.
That
really
should
be
an
exciting
and
self-determined
period.
C
I
would
like
to
share
some
of
the
most
common
challenges
that
we
see
here
at
lsh
with
some
of
our
members
and
other
clients,
and
so,
as
you
all
know,
older
adults
are
at
higher
risk
of
being
helping
and
secure
with
nearly
half
of
older
philadelphians,
with
an
income
of
less
than
twenty
four
thousand
dollars
a
year.
82
percent
of
lsh's.
H
C
C
Those
looking
for
affordable
housing
have
to
jump
through
hoops
to
apply
and
then
are
placed
on
years-long
wait
lists
many
times.
Folks
do
not
have
the
time
to
wait
for
housing.
They
may
be
changing
housing
because
of
medical
problems,
financial
challenges,
a
loss
of
a
family
member
or
caregiver
that
has
spurred
their
need
to
move,
and
when
this
happens,
you
don't
want
to
also
lose
your
community
where
you
feel
safe
and
at
home
and
where
your
friends
are-
and
this
was
the
case
for
one
of
our
clients
in
this
past
year.
C
Her
name
is
farah
and
she's
an
83
year
old,
lifelong
philadelphian,
and
she
came
to
lsh
seeking
food
for
one,
but
also
support
in
finding
housing
as
she
became
homeless.
Her
her
friend,
who
she
was
staying
with,
could
no
longer
help
her,
and
so
she
was
looking
for
housing
in
either
the
germantown
or
fishtown
neighborhoods.
C
Sarah
had
previously
experienced
homelessness
and
she
had
lived
in
shelters
before
where
she
had
had
not
some
such
great
experiences
all
the
time.
So
she
preferred
to
ride
the
rails
as
she
said,
so
she
spent
most
of
her
time
on
the
market.
Frankfurt
line
that
she
also
has
diabetes
and
with
a
lack
of
home,
to
prepare
nutritious
foods
for
ourselves
struggle
to
keep
that
in
check
a
few
months
ago.
Sarah
ended
up
in
the
hospital
where
eventually
she
was
admitted
into
a
nursing
home.
C
This
is
not
how
we
we
should
have
to
obtain
a
roof
over
our
heads.
It
was
really
challenging
for
her
to
lose
that
independence,
but
she
does
have
you
know
the
medical
support
she
needs
now,
but
the
moral
of
the
story
is,
we
just
need
more,
affordable
helping.
This
is
a
big
part
of
it
and
for
those
older
philadelphians
who
want
to
stay
in
their
home,
whether
they
rent
or
own.
C
C
Caregiving
support
can
reduce
medical
emergencies
and
keep
older
adults
healthier
and
in
their
homes
longer.
So
we
need
to
increase
pay
and
support
for
caregivers
to
address
this
problem
as
well
and
finally,
increased
social
supports
and
community
support,
such
as
those
provided
at
senior
community
centers,
like
the
one
here
at
lsh,
allows
for
older
adults
to
stay
in
their
homes
longer
by
staying
active.
C
They
have
support
from
others
in
their
community.
They
tend
to
have
fewer
medical
emergencies,
are
less
stressed
and
report
more
positive
indicators
of
mental
and
emotional
health,
so
we
need
to
provide
social
and
community
support
and
services
within
the
neighborhoods,
where
our
teachers
are
living
and,
of
course,
so
for
those
reasons,
I'm
just
so
happy
that
we
have
to
talk
about
these
things
here.
So
thank
you
for
hosting
this.
C
I
hope
that
we
continue
to
configure
out
together
how
we
can
increase
affordable
housing
and
then
for
those
who
want
to
stay
in
their
homes,
how
we
can
address
more
affordable
and
speedy
home
modification,
increasing
caregiver
support
and
pay
and
strengthening
the
community
and
social
support.
Thank
you.
So
much.
A
N
N
The
resolution
of
the
the
two
one-
zero
zero
nine
one
was
introduced
by
council
member
brooks,
and
I
just
want
to
say
thank
you.
Thank
you.
Thank
you.
You
know
for
that
and
response
to
this
problem
of
undue
vent
burdens
and
unfair
access
to
a
basic
property
maintenance,
as
well
as
to
preserve
an
appropriate
resources
of
the
housing
trust
fund
and,
as
we
all
know,
that
philadelphia
is
one
of
the
largest
cities
with
a
high
cost
burden
population.
N
Additionally,
according
to
the
pew's
2019
philadelphia
resident
survey,
43
of
the
respondents
could
not
afford
to
undertake
any
significant
repairs
or
improvements
to
their
home.
In
the
last
two
years,
our
commitment
to
co-creating
the
solution
to
these
complex
problems
does
not
exist
in
one
hearing
or
one
year
of
meeting
with
the
other
council.
Our
commitment
is
a
multi-generational
multicultural,
multi-faceted,
as
our
1.8
million
members
across
the
commonwealth.
N
We
must
continue
to
protect
and
promote
philadelphia's,
equal
right
to
life
and
their
right
to
livable
communities
and
as
we
go
forward
in
recovery,
I
am
here
today
not
to
ask
that
we
go
back
to
our
normal.
I
am
here
to
ask
instead
that
together
we
become
champions
of
the
co-created
solutions
toward
the
ongoing
housing
crisis
that
impact
senior
philadelphia
residents,
where
we
create
better
access,
better
protection
and
better
availability
of
resources.
N
But
I'm
also
very
much
aware
of
all
the
people
who
are
not
as
fortunate
and
knowing
that.
This
is
something
that
we
truly
have
to
look
at,
how
we
work
together
to
bring
an
end
to
this.
So
as
a
result
of
my
being
here
today,
my
commitment
as
far
as
the
the
work
has
just
gone.
I
can't
even
tell
you
how
much
higher
just
to
hear
so
many
personal
stories
from
other
people.