The Unique Housing Needs of Seniors in California

At Harmony Communities, we are passionate about promoting affordable housing options for everyone. We are particularly aware of the need for affordable housing among senior citizen populations, many of whom have found a place to call home in one of our communities. But the needs of seniors don’t stop at affordability. This article takes a closer look at the needs of low-income seniors.

Affordability

Affordable housing options can be hard to come by, especially given the rising cost of rent on the West Coast. According to a recent census, in California, the average monthly gross residential rent was over $1,500 a month in 2017. 

In addition, the state’s population – particularly the aging population – is expected to grow exponentially. According to one source, California is expected to be one of the fastest growing states in the nation: In 2016, it comprised 12 percent of the nation’s population and is projected to increase by 30 percent by 2060. The same source notes that the number of those aged over 60 is projected to grow more than three times as fast as the overall population. The population of those aged over 85 will increase at an even faster rate, with an overall increase of nearly 490 percent by 2060.

The State’s climbing rents and the increasingnumber of seniors createa dangerous combination when it comes to affordable housing options. For many seniors, using a fixed income to pay steep rents leaves little to cover other essentials like groceries and medications. And the rising number of needy seniors combined with the scarcity of affordable housing options means many sit for years on the waiting lists for affordable housing communities. 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a variety of resourcesto help seniors locate and afford housing. These resources include counseling agencies, legal assistance, and links to affordable senior housing communities. 

However, seniors need more than just affordability. Senior housing must also be:

• Safe and accessible for those who have physical challenges; 
• In close proximity to medical care; and
• Near public transportation.

In addition, many baby boomers have a desire to lessen their carbon footprint, so the ability to provide housing options that are sustainable is a plus. 

Here at Harmony Communities, it is our goal to provide everyone with safe, sustainable, affordable, attractive, and convenient housing. For the growing population of seniors in our state – and particularly for the senior residents that make up 50% of the tenants in our communities – we have and will continue to take special care to ensure that we meet those needs. 

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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and individuals know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.