Onsite Ed. - Serving Seniors

Below is a sampling of our Senior Education Module we share with volunteers.

 

Thank you for volunteering with us today.  You are working on an A Brush with Kindness home that is part of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. A Brush with Kindness connects volunteers and their resources with opportunities to live out their faith and values through participating in home restoration projects that help families stay in a safe and healthy home.

 

A Brush with Kindness is one way that Habitat seeks to eliminate poverty housing from the Twin Cities and to make decent, affordable shelter for all people a matter of conscience

ABWK is part of a continuum of services Habitat offers which includes Home building, home rehabs, home restoration, DIY, and mortgage counseling services

 

Who are some populations that would most likely need home restoration help? They are the populations we serve:

• Seniors, individuals with disabilities, single parents, veterans, low-income families struggling with unemployment, health issues or transitioning to a new country and lifestyle.

 

Senior statistics:

• Half of all homeowners we serve are seniors struggling to remain independent in their home.
• Seniors over the age of 65 are the fastest growing population in the U.S. nearly doubling in the next 20 years.
• As the U.S. population ages helping senior homeowners age in place will become a major issue.

Typical issue’s that senior’s face:

• Fixed income
• Physical issues and frailties associated with aging (limited physical activities, hearing  and vision loss are biggest concerns for seniors.)
• Mental health issues – memory loss and depression 15-20 %
• Transportation – getting around town
• Staying in touch with family and friendsIndependence in their own home

When seniors can’t repair their homes they often lose the option of living independently. They may have to move to nursing homes or assisted living facilities and rely on Medicaid to cover the cost. This is a very costly option for all of us, since it costs Medicaid an average of $64,000 per year for a nursing home stay in the metro area. Helping seniors with home repairs is a much more cost effective solution. 

Anyone could experience significant misfortune which could put someone in the position of one of our homeowners. Some of us standing here might be one health or financial crisis away from the position of our homeowners.

At Habitat:

Our vision is a Twin Cities region where hard-working families can own homes in healthy neighborhoods with access to jobs, transportation, and quality schools. We will help make decent, affordable housing a matter of our collective character - by continuing to build and preserve homes, by supporting families, and by engaging the community in our mission.