Title
Authorizing the City Council Committee on Intergenerational Affairs and Aging to hold public hearings examining solutions to the ongoing housing crisis impacting senior Philadelphians.
Body
WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2019, 14% of the Philadelphia population, or more than 221,000 Philadelphians, are 65 years of age and older; and
WHEREAS, According to the Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging, 206,000 elderly Philadelphians over 60 are homeowners and 30% of homes where an elder is the head of household serves as the place of residence for more than one generation; and
WHEREAS, The largest transfer of generational wealth in American history is on the horizon. Yet many senior households in Philadelphia lack access to affordable estate planning resources, creating chronic clouded title issues throughout the City including blight and home vacancies. Tangled title issues are a particular concern for many seniors who have worked for generations to expand the opportunity to pass along generational wealth to their heirs; and
WHEREAS, In 2018 and 2019, the Housing Trust Fund invested $6.9 million toward preservation efforts that support elderly Philadelphians aging in place, resulting in 3,917 homes receiving Basic Systems repairs and 425 homes receiving Adaptive Modifications funds that increase accessibility to keep people in their homes; and
WHEREAS, AARP's Philadelphia: An Age-Friendly, Livable City for All 2020 Livable Communities Action Plan and Assessment Report surveyed seniors and hosted community conversations, and many cited gentrification as a reason for increasing home and rental apartment costs, leading to a lack of available senior housing; and
WHEREAS, As of 2019, more than half of all Philadelphians are renters (51 percent), as compared to homeowners (49 percent); and
WHEREAS, According to the Mayor's Commission on Aging, as of November 28, 2016, Philadelphia had approximately 86,000 households being rented where the he...
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