United Way of Long Island has been awarded a $1.3 million Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program (OAHMP). Funds will be utilized to make safety and functional home modifications and limited repairs to meet the needs of low-income elderly homeowners that allow them to age in place. This is part of the existing network of programs the organization provides to older residents including veterans’ assistance, 2-1-1 information and referral, Project Warmth, case management, financial and legal help and health and prevention services.
Long Island’s population is continuing to age; the number of residents aged 70 and older is expected to increase by more than 220,000 over the next 25 years, according to Northwell Health. Stay at home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic shed light on housing conditions that put health and safety at risk. This program is designed to help prevent Long Island seniors from being unnecessarily hospitalized. TheCenters for Disease Control and Prevention indicates falls are the leading cause of injury and death in older Americans, making the program even more essential.
Recipients of this program like Peter, a Navy veteran, and retired tradesman whose home was updated with safety features like a front railing and shower grab bars have noted the marked difference in their quality of life and the profound impact this program has had. The home modification program expects to serve 150 clients over three years. To qualify, residents must live in and own private residences and be at least 62 years old (renters are also allowed).
“Seniors across Long Island have made their desire to live in their own homes resoundingly clear, which is why the work that United Way of Long Island does is so vital,” said U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer. “I was proud to support United Way’s federal funding application for their Safe At Home For Seniors program. $1.3 million is now on its way to assist hundreds of seniors across Long Island with home repairs and modifications, allowing them to age in place with dignity, and I will continue to advocate for our seniors’ best interests, and bringing federal investment into home and community-based services is the way to do so.”
United Way’s community partners, along with the occupational therapists will help identify the repairs most critically needed for seniors to facilitate aging in place. The types of repairs to these homes will include bathroom renovations (i.e. installing no-slip strips, grab bars, transfer benches) and accessibility features (i.e. lever handles on all doors and faucets, handheld shower heads, wheelchair ramps).
“Helping Long Island’s seniors live safely and independently in their own homes is something I’ve fought for, and I’m proud to have helped secure this $1.3 million HUD grant for United Way of Long Island,” said Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02). “This funding will go toward critical home modifications that help prevent falls—one of the leading causes of injury for adults over 65—and reduce the need for costly hospital stays or long-term care. United Way has long been a trusted partner in serving our communities, and I’ll keep pushing for the federal resources our seniors need to age with dignity and peace of mind.”
“There has never been a more important time than now to ensure the safety of our senior citizens when living independently at home,” said Theresa A. Regnante, President and CEO of United Way of Long Island. “Small changes in seniors’ homes can make a huge difference in their lives. This HUD modification program will enhance United Way’s already existing Safe at Home for Seniors program allowing our elderly neighbors to safely age in place.”
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