I have had the privilege of working as a Resident Services Coordinator in HUD Section 202 housing since 2008. Working with the 105 or so people over the age of 62 and those needing wheelchair-accessible homes was not what I imagined I would do as a Social Worker. What drew me to the position was the idea of being in a role that focused on prevention.

Calculating the cost of prevention is not an easy task, so it’s easy to target these programs first. Programs that provide transportation to appointments and shopping. Programs that provide assistance paying energy bills and medical bills. Programs that provide services like housekeeping and Personal Care Attendants to allow people to stay in their homes, where they want to be. Programs that focus on a person’s quality of life, not just whether or not a person is “safe.”

When we preserve only the costly programs to assist people in crisis, we take away their options. We give them, and their loved ones, no option but to watch a downward spiral. The people who live in these subsidized homes know how fortunate they are to have rent based off of 30% of their income, which averages about $900 a month. The vast majority of residents here are living solely on Social Security. According to the recent Elder Economic Security Index (http://www.wowonline.org/documents/NationalFactSheetNovember2010.pdf), the cost of living for a healthy single senior in the US is $20,326. The average woman retiree on Social Security takes in just $12,526. These folks make too much to qualify for many programs meant to help, as the Federal Poverty Level has not been updated to reflect the changing realities we face as we age. Too many times a person makes $100 a year too much to save $96.40 a month with a Medicare Savings Program.

People make the choice to go without medications because they just can’t make ends meet. A woman died last week because she could not afford her medication, even though she had insurance, and even a pension.

Most of my days consist of helping someone understand a medical bill, identifying junk mail or checking in after hospitalizations. I make myself available to the folks in my buildings, and I thoroughly enjoy afternoon coffee chats, hearing their stories, building relationships and building trust. It’s not easy for people to ask for help. Too many don’t, and it ends up costing us all more over time.

I’m working to educate the people I work with to contact their elected officials, inviting them to our buildings to hear how much subsidized housing programs and in-home services mean. The people I work with don’t believe anyone will listen to them, because they are old and poor. I am asking for help. Because I am listening.

Data sources

• U.S. Census Bureau, “American FactFinder,” 2007 American Community Survey (accessed May 2011). Data came from the following tables: Statewide poverty percentages, GCT1701, Ratio of income to poverty level, C17002
• U.S. Census Bureau, “American FactFinder,” 2009 American Community Survey (accessed May 2011). Data came from the following tables: Statewide poverty percentages, GCT1701, Ratio of income to poverty level, C17002
• Half in Ten analysis of Table 1, 2007 State Expenditure Report, National Association of State Budget Officers.
• Half in Ten analysis of Table 1, 2009 State Expenditure Report, National Association of State Budget Officers.
• U.S. Census Bureau, “American FactFinder,” 2007 American Community Survey (accessed May 2011). Data came from the following tables: R2515
• U.S. Census Bureau, “American FactFinder,” 2009 American Community Survey (accessed May 2011). Data came from the following tables: R2515