The Nudge Report (Winter 2021)
Giving Thanks!
Although Thanksgiving is behind us, I never want to miss an opportunity to thank our supporters, donors, volunteers and all those who have supported our mission of eradicating sub-standard housing in Kent County!
I’d like to remind us about WHY we do this.
"Health begins long before you enter the hospital's front doors - A person's ZIP code may be more important than their genetic code. Housing and health are interlinked, and poor housing conditions can have multiple negative health outcomes." - Gretchen West, Executive Director, Healthy Homes, Nationwide Children's Hospital
The following is an excerpt from TN Health + Housing Summit presentation by Jennifer Molinsky, Ph.D. Senior Research Association at The Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University
A Growing National Issue - As the older population grows, the number of older households facing serious affordability challenges is expected to grow. Low-income older homeowners, in particular, will need significantly greater resources to assist with maintenance, home modifications, and reducing housing costs.
• Low-income homeowners have most of their wealth in their homes, with very little non-housing wealth. As of 2019, more than 10 million older households are cost-burdened—an all-time high, with about half being severely cost-burdened (meaning they paid more than half of their income on housing).
• Older homeowners who have paid off their mortgages can still be cost-burdened by the combination of utility bills, property taxes and insurance. Yet, the share of older adults carrying mortgages into older age has grown over the past several decades, including those in their 80s and older.
• Those who are cost-burdened spend less on necessities like food and out-of-pocket healthcare costs like prescriptions.
• Accessibility within the home is a major challenge, as the incidence of disability increases with age.
• Data show disabilities occur earlier in life for those with low incomes, Black older adults, and renters.
• Only 3.5% of the nation's housing stock has three main accessibility features important to people with mobility challenges—a no-step entry into the home, single-floor living, and extra-wide doors and hallways.
Today, most older adults who remain in their homes rely on unpaid assistance for help with self-care and household tasks. In the future, we anticipate they will rely more on paid care, whether in their own home or in a residential care setting, and both types of care are expensive. The cost of in-home support exceeds the median income of older renters and eats up much of owners' incomes. The costs of assisted living and nursing home care at the national median costs exceed the median income of both older renters and homeowners.
Rebuilding Together Kent County is making a difference!
We have been working for over fifteen years to eradicate substandard housing in Kent County. Since 2019 we have invested over $280,000 in making our neighbors’ homes safer and healthier. We made critical home repairs for people with disabilities, seniors and low-income neighbors.
The growing national issue, as outlined above, is precisely where we come in. We are uniquely positioned to address these issues. While we still have some operational challenges, we are working diligently to respond to every application submitted!
Thank you!
I thank you for your continued support. I thank you for having a vision of what we can be in the future.
~Wayne
Rebuilding Together Kent County is the most impactful nonprofit in Kent County!
Repairing homes, revitalizing communities, rebuilding lives. Safe homes and communities for everyone.
…ending substandard housing in our community!