Affordable Housing Providers Host Boston Mayoral Forum on Senior Issues
Brighton, MA – October 18, 2021 – A broad coalition of affordable senior housing providers is hosting “Candidate Forum: A Vision For Boston’s Seniors,” with Boston’s mayoral candidates, Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George. The event will take place Wednesday, October 27 from 4-5 p.m. and is free for all to view online at visionforbostonseniors.com. It will be streamed live and translated for non-English speakers after the event.
The event will be co-moderated by Amy Schectman, President & CEO of 2Life Communities, and Walter J. Ramos, President & CEO of Rogerson Communities. Rogerson and 2Life organized this forum to shine a spotlight on the needs and opportunities for older adults in the City.
"Our more than a dozen co-sponsors, who collectively represent thousands of older adults in Boston, came on board quickly to let the candidates know we are all watching and listening closely and that their approach to engaging older adults is of critical importance to a very large portion of the electorate," said Schectman. "Collectively our residents have extensive wisdom to share, experiences to relate, and insights to offer—but that can’t happen when they have to choose between eating and having heat in the winter or paying for their medicine. Without affordable housing, that’s in fact how they must occupy their time. And we all lose as a society by not having our seniors front and center in civic life.”
“Organizations like Rogerson and 2Life serve thousands of seniors throughout Greater Boston’s diverse communities, promoting independence, longevity and a sense of community to those in our care,” said Ramos. “As we enter a new political and economic era it is critical that we hear directly from the candidates about how they plan to improve life for seniors and how they will address the significant challenges they face.”
The event will include introductory statements from each candidate, followed by a moderated Q&A program led by Schectman and Ramos, which will incorporate questions from seniors living in affordable housing communities in almost every neighborhood in the City.
The candidates will be asked to weigh in on issues related to affordable and available housing in a city that continues to grow faster than expected, with older adults the fastest growing and most economically challenged group. They will also be asked about senior engagement and community, accessibility and availability of transit, City support for adult day health and other critical services, and equity.
In addition to 2Life and Rogerson Communities, the event is co-sponsored by ACEDONE, Beacon Communities, B’nai B’rith, Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association, Codman Square Neighborhood Development, The Community Builders, Fenway Community Development Corporation, Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center, Hebrew Senior Life, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, LeadingAge Massachusetts, LGBTQ Senior Housing, Madison Park Community Development Corporation, Massachusetts Assisted Living Association, Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations, Preservation of Affordable Housing, South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation, Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation and Trinity Development Management.
About 2Life Communities
2Life Communities, a nonprofit organization founded in 1965, operates on the belief that all seniors should have the opportunity to live a full life of connection and purpose in a dynamic, supportive environment – a model called aging in community, which directly combats the growing public health crisis of social isolation and loneliness amongst older adults. At 2Life Communities, residents can step out the doors of their own apartments and find friendship, community, physical and intellectual stimulation, and a helping hand day or night. Serving a diverse population of over 1,530 older adults, 2Life creates communities with a laser sharp focus on affordability – a tremendous concern in Massachusetts, the state with the 2nd largest gap in the U.S. between seniors’ median income and the cost of living.
About Rogerson Communities
Rogerson Communities focuses solely on "Senior Living” creating communities where elders thrive. The Rogerson Model incorporates supportive housing and healthcare to help seniors and their families find solutions to aging strong in their community, providing a sense of dignity across all income levels. Often this means finding housing that is affordable. With 30 properties and programs under management, this non-profit offers every aspect of Senior Living: affordable housing; independent and retirement living; assisted living; memory care; continuing care communities; as well as adult day health programs. Programs are staffed by dedicated caregivers who foster a culture of community and maintain the high quality care that is Rogerson’s hallmark. Properties are located throughout Greater Boston and stretch west to Worcester and south to Weymouth. For more information: www.Rogerson.org
Media Contact:
David Tanklefsky
dtanklefsky@thecastlegrp.com
617-763-0510
