Authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings to investigate how the City of Philadelphia can increase affordable housing for seniors to handle the rising senior population.

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has the highest proportion of senior citizens of the 10 largest cities in the United States; and

WHEREAS, The City's elder population is significantly diverse in regards to race, ethnicity, education, national origin, income and health status; and

WHEREAS, Over the next ten years the City of Philadelphia's senior citizen population of 65-69 will increase by 24%, the population 70-74 will increase by 19% and the African American, Asian and Latino 85+ population will double; and

WHEREAS, A chief concern amongst the growing senior population is accessibility to affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, 43% of seniors live at or below 200% of the poverty level, which studies have shown have the same challenges in paying for basic necessities as those living below 100% of the poverty level; and

WHEREAS, Seniors who require affordable housing want to remain in their same neighborhood near their friends and family; and

WHEREAS, There are currently more than 175 facilities offering affordable housing for seniors in the City of Philadelphia; and

WHEREAS, The vast majority of the these facilities have no available beds and operate with long waiting lists; and

WHEREAS, In order for the City of Philadelphia to meet the needs of the growing senior population, there must be more available, affordable housing for individuals 60 and older; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby authorize the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings to investigate how the City of Philadelphia can increase affordable housing for seniors to handle the rising senior population.

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