For many Americans, life is becoming less affordable. This is especially true for seniors – the only age group that has faced rising poverty for five consecutive years.
For low-income seniors, affordability is about more than money. It is a matter of dignity – of living in a safe home, meeting your everyday needs, and enjoying your life.
“You can hardly eat now,” says Paula, a homeowner on Chicago’s far south side. “Everything is so expensive.”
Paula reached out to H.O.M.E. after learning about our Upkeep & Repair Program, which provides interior repairs and safety modifications for low-income older homeowners. She had significant plumbing problems in her kitchen and bathroom and wasn’t sure how to take care of them.
“You can’t come up with $300 or $400 [for an emergency] when you are on a fixed income,” she says.
As a disabled senior with a small fixed income, Paula faced a question that many low-income older homeowners face:
“Are you going to fix the leaks or are you going to eat?”
Fortunately, Paula did not have to make that difficult decision. H.O.M.E. replaced her faucets and mended the pipes. We also made safety modifications she had not considered but welcomed: grab bars in the bathroom, a shower seat, a re-mounted basement railing, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
Because of H.O.M.E., Paula got the repairs she needed without cutting into her daily budget. H.O.M.E. made Paula’s life more affordable. We also made sure she did not have to face the added stress of skipped meals, water-damaged floors, or unsafe showers.
“I can relax,” says Paula about the repairs. “It gives me peace of mind.”