Two original tenants to be recognized and long-time tenants to share what affordable housing means

What: 25th Anniversary Celebration for People Inc. Senior Living Highlights will include tenant stories and a short video will debut to commemorate the momentous occasion.

When: Thursday, November 8, 2018, at 11 a.m.

Where: People Inc. Iris Senior Living, 4150 Sowles Road, Building H, Hamburg, NY

Who: Former Congressmember Jack Quinn, elected officials, Lisa Pugliese of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, People Inc. President and CEO Rhonda Frederick and community leaders will share remarks to celebrate this achievement. Two original tenants will be recognized during the event and two long-time tenants will share what it means to live affordably and independently. 

Why: People Inc. is proud to announce its twenty-fifth year of providing affordable and safe apartments for older adults. As people age, their needs change and services available to them become limited or difficult to access. Recognizing this, along with an increased number of seniors in its neighborhoods, People Inc. broadened its scope as a human service agency to include not only services for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, but also older adults in need of affordable and safe housing. In 1993, the agency opened its first low-income senior living apartment complex, People Inc. Iris Senior Living in Hamburg, which is now home to 49 seniors.

Over the last 25 years, People Inc. Senior Living has expanded, with a total of 20 locations throughout Western New York, including in Erie, Niagara, Genesee and Cattaraugus Counties. Today, 875 tenants, age 62 and older, choose to call People Inc. Senior Living home, right in the middle of communities they care about. 

"Twenty-five years ago, we were thrilled to open the doors at People Inc. Iris Senior Living in Hamburg,” said Rhonda Frederick, president and CEO, People Inc. “From there, the need for affordable housing for older adults only continued to grow. In 2014, we opened our twentieth affordable senior living complex, People Inc. Walnut Senior Living in West Seneca. It’s been an honor to work alongside so many community members over the years to make the apartments a reality. These affordable apartments were made possible due to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 202 Program and we’re so grateful for their funding. Today, we continue to see the benefits of safe, affordable housing for our tenants and look forward to many more years of supporting independent living for older adults.”

From a senior who receives a small pension and cannot afford an over-priced apartment, to a widow who can no longer afford to manage the upkeep of a house, People Inc. Senior Living assists hundreds of older adults with managing utilities, downsizing and removing the burden of home maintenance, like lawn care and shoveling the region’s snow.

Two benefits of People Inc. Senior Living are the affordability and safety features. Apartments are for independent older adults age 62 and over who are income eligible. As an added cost savings, some utilities are included. One-bedroom apartments include a kitchen with appliances. Tenants and family members can feel at ease having a day-time manager on site and a live-in caretaker for building emergencies. Safety features include stove fire prevention devices, grab bars in the bathroom, emergency pull-cords, a secure entrance and a 24-hour response system. Along with laundry facilities, each complex has a beautifully furnished community room with a kitchen that can be reserved for family gatherings. Tenants are welcome to have one small pet. For those who like to socialize, there are a variety of social events and community outings held throughout the year.

Another advantage to People Inc. Senior Living is Service Coordination that is provided if additional supports are needed. Tenants can utilize this unique benefit at no extra charge to help them thrive, as they are connected to supports and community services. 

People Inc., a multispecialty non-profit health and human services agency, provides programs and services to more than 12,050 people with developmental disabilities, special needs, their families and older adults throughout Western New York and the Greater Rochester region. Since 1970, People Inc. has assisted individuals to achieve greater degrees of independence and productivity. With nearly 4,000 employees, People Inc. is one of the region’s largest employers. To learn more, visit people-inc.org, follow People Inc. on Facebook or Twitter @PeopleIncNews.