Ipswich - Senior Housing/Agawam Village

[CaseyB]

They are no different than any other apartment community except that they are owned by a city or town, the rents are subsidized by the taxpayer and they are limited to seniors with low income. They are not group housing so you'd take the same precautions as anyone living in a single family or private apartment.

[mdovell]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

They are no different than any other apartment community except that they are owned by a city or town, the rents are subsidized by the taxpayer and they are limited to seniors with low income. They are not group housing so you'd take the same precautions as anyone living in a single family or private apartment.

Right so there's no real difference then. What you are inferring is public housing vs section 8 but it's still administered by the local housing authority. In Mass public housing is subject to a central state list. Section 8 is still local. You can't really go from one place to another with it as it's based on the Huduser amounts. Otherwise people would go from high cost areas to lower costs for a bigger place. What you get for section 8 in boston is much more than say Hartford or Burlington vt.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by CaseyB

They are no different than any other apartment community except that they are owned by a city or town, the rents are subsidized by the taxpayer and they are limited to seniors with low income. They are not group housing so you'd take the same precautions as anyone living in a single family or private apartment.

Exactly! In my senior building now they shut down all community spaces for the time being and take other precautions.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by mdovell

Right so there's no real difference then. What you are inferring is public housing vs section 8 but it's still administered by the local housing authority. In Mass public housing is subject to a central state list. Section 8 is still local. You can't really go from one place to another with it as it's based on the Huduser amounts. Otherwise people would go from high cost areas to lower costs for a bigger place. What you get for section 8 in boston is much more than say Hartford or Burlington vt.

Please don’t hijack my thread. Covid isn’t the topic. Thanks.

[Brave Stranger]

Originally Posted by mdovell

Well yes.


https://www.leadingage.org/almost-60...-even-more-are


"A survey of nonprofit senior housing providers by LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, reveals that more than half (59.7%) of respondents are aware of confirmed COVID-19 cases in their communities. "

The death rate mostly is 81 in mass but hospitalization is from mid 60s and up. If infection control isn't enforced if will spread. Income isn't a factor

So...some folks are aware of COVID in their communities, and some people have come down with it. No epidemic that I see. Any high-rise apartment or congested housing needs to be diligent with disease spread.

Still, like the OP said: this is not a thread about COVID. So I'm out

[mdovell]

It's the leading cause of death in the US and these are the demographics where it concentrates so yes it is relevant.

The elderly are being hit the hardest by this. So naturally has greater ramifications. If course it's an epidemic.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/...41-new-deaths/

This isn't exactly a time for elderly people to move, especially to other regions. Wait a year or two and things should improve.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by mdovell

It's the leading cause of death in the US and these are the demographics where it concentrates so yes it is relevant.

The elderly are being hit the hardest by this. So naturally has greater ramifications. If course it's an epidemic.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/...41-new-deaths/

This isn't exactly a time for elderly people to move, especially to other regions. Wait a year or two and things should improve.

Again please post your Covid opinions on the Covid thread not here. It’s off topic.

[in_newengland]

Senior housing is no more risky for people than any other apartments. What would be risky would be elevators, a lobby, corridors, that sort of thing.

Speaking of section 8, if you can get a section 8 voucher, you can take it anywhere in the entire country. It's an excellent program. So if an elderly person has section 8 and needs to live by their son or daughter for medical help, they can move there, providing they can find an apartment that accepts section 8. Your voucher may be for a one bedroom, a two bedroom, maybe there are even 3 bedroom apartments.

But section 8 takes years on a waiting list usually while a place like Agawam Village will have a shorter waiting list. At Agawam Village type apartments, heat is included but you pay your own electricity plus the rent. Both section 8 and senior housing have the (stupid, I think) disadvantage that the person is not allowed to work. If they could work a few hours a week and keep the money, they would be able to afford to maintain their car, for instance, and not be dependent upon others. But the programs force them to sit around and mostly watch tv which is not what most seniors want to do or should do.

These programs really need to be updated, imho. Section 8 is good for seniors except the part that stipulates that they are not allowed to earn money. Back around ten years ago they used to be able to work maybe 15-20 hours and keep the money. Some law changed that (federal law) and now if they work, their rent just increases so it's a wash. Kind of rotten, I think, for people who need the money. After all, they are in low income senior housing so they, of all people, should be allowed to work a little bit.

[october2007]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

Senior housing is no more risky for people than any other apartments. What would be risky would be elevators, a lobby, corridors, that sort of thing.

Speaking of section 8, if you can get a section 8 voucher, you can take it anywhere in the entire country. It's an excellent program. So if an elderly person has section 8 and needs to live by their son or daughter for medical help, they can move there, providing they can find an apartment that accepts section 8. Your voucher may be for a one bedroom, a two bedroom, maybe there are even 3 bedroom apartments.

But section 8 takes years on a waiting list usually while a place like Agawam Village will have a shorter waiting list. At Agawam Village type apartments, heat is included but you pay your own electricity plus the rent. Both section 8 and senior housing have the (stupid, I think) disadvantage that the person is not allowed to work. If they could work a few hours a week and keep the money, they would be able to afford to maintain their car, for instance, and not be dependent upon others. But the programs force them to sit around and mostly watch tv which is not what most seniors want to do or should do.

These programs really need to be updated, imho. Section 8 is good for seniors except the part that stipulates that they are not allowed to earn money. Back around ten years ago they used to be able to work maybe 15-20 hours and keep the money. Some law changed that (federal law) and now if they work, their rent just increases so it's a wash. Kind of rotten, I think, for people who need the money. After all, they are in low income senior housing so they, of all people, should be allowed to work a little bit.

Good info but off topic.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by october2007

Good info but off topic.

Sorry! It is normal for a topic to drift a bit. It usually gets back on track. I was trying to help you with other information because Agawam Village isn't that great. I also included info on what part you would pay, that you are not allowed to work, and that section 8 is a better option if you can get it. My entire post was related to senior housing.

If you don't approve of our posts when we are trying to help you, I don't know what else to say.