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OCR Page 1 of 44Intergenerational Housing Arrangements: Supporting Kids and Seniors Together
Intergenerational solutions to today's challenges exist. Today, we have been joined by two
entrepreneurial and visionary community leaders who have developed intergeneration housing
solutions to the issues of the day. These two women and the families they have invited to be
with us illustrate the benefit of providing a woman with an idea the support she needs to solve
community problems. In each case, these models were supported by federal policy or flexibility.
And as a result of initiatives recently adopted as part of the federal budget - these initiatives will
be easier to develop in the future.
Grandfamilies House
In the last two decades, the number of children being raised by their grandparents has grown to a
million and a half (CHK - is 1996 the most recent number?) In the early 1990's BAC-YOU
(spell out) staff noticed that a growing number of elderly clients were living with young children.
Some of these elders were in violation of their lease as a result, others were living in cramped
circumstances and unable to move. In some cases, the addition of grandchildren to the
household added costs that made the existing housing unaffordable. BAC-YOU surveyed a
group of grand-parent headed households in Boston and discovered that they were
overwhelmingly African American women with health problems and low household income
(typically $5,000 - $15,000). When asked about the are in which they needed the most help -
75% of these grandparents listed housing. The reasons they noted were affordability and
accessibility, but they also noted the need or ices like transportation and respite care.
In October 1998, the doors to Grandfanilies nouse pened. Grandfamilies provides housing to
26 grand-parent headed families in two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments which offer
architectural details for elders living with children. For example, there are grab bars in the
bathrooms, childproof features (whazzat?), and a playground within view of grandparents
watching from the apartment. In addition, Grandfamilies House provides programs and services
for its tenants. There is a van for medical appointments and shopping. The YWCA of Boston
operates a Generations Learning Together program onsite which includes a preschool, after-
school and computer learning center - all designed to include grandparents in the education of
their grandchildren. There is also a YWCA sponsored infant care center and exercise program
for grandparents (on site?).
One of the difficult aspects of this project was finding a way to reduce the rent for the low-
income grand-parents with unexpected additions to the household. The Grandfamilies
developers decided to try to find a way to use the existing Section 8 Rent Subsidy program to
meet the needs of these families. Section 8 tenants pay 30% of their income for rent and the
Section 8 program makes up the difference. However, most certificates are not available for
specific projects and up until now it has been very difficult to use certificates to facilitate the
development of special housing like Grandfamilies. Fortunately, Grandfamilies House was able
to work out a special arrangement with the state of Massachusetts.
Hope Meadows
also- look for basicinbo
11/19/97
on admin necompsre: 12/14/99
firste care /adoption
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