PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kevin Jones, Associate State Director of Advocacy at AARP New York, on City of Yes for Housing Opportunity
5:16:04
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126 sec
Kevin Jones, representing AARP New York, testified in support of various housing proposals within the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity plan, emphasizing their importance for older adults in New York City. He highlighted the growing older adult population and the need for affordable housing options to allow aging in place.
- Strongly supported allowing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) to increase affordable housing options and help older adults stay in their communities
- Advocated for creating housing close to public transportation and adopting the Universal Affordability Preference in medium and high-density districts
- Emphasized the importance of affordable housing for both older adults and their caregivers to support aging in place
Kevin Jones
5:16:04
Good afternoon.
5:16:05
Tim Riley, chair Solman, and members of the sub committee on zoning and franchise.
Charles Ny
5:16:09
My
Kevin Jones
5:16:09
name is Kevin Jones.
5:16:10
I'm the associate's state director of advocacy at AARP New York.
5:16:14
And I'm here today on behalf of the 1,300,000,000 older adults living in the Five boroughs, and I want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to testify.
5:16:23
While the housing crisis impacts all New Yorkers, older adults acutely feel the effects of high housing costs.
5:16:28
And fear they'll be priced out of the communities they've lived in for years.
5:16:31
According to a report from Center for Urban Future, New York 65 plus population grew by 36% or about 363,000 people between 20112021.
5:16:42
As our older adult population grows rapidly, New York City must ensure housing policy meets this growing need.
5:16:48
AARP New York supports a number of housing proposals, including allowing homeowners to build accessory dwelling units on their properties.
5:16:54
ADU's increased affordability have excuse me, affordable housing options for all New Yorkers and give older New Yorkers the freedom to downsize and live near their loved ones or caregivers.
5:17:03
For older adults on fixed income struggling to stay in their homes, Adding a small basement or attic apartment to their property can be the difference that allows them to age safely in their communities.
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Family caregivers, often friends or family members, are the backbone of a broken long term care system.
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They help with everything from buying groceries, managing medications, bathing, and dressing.
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This intense level of care is often balanced with other full time jobs and responsibilities made easier if care made much easier caregivers live near even with the older adults.
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Without increasing the affordable housing options, older New Yorkers and their caregivers, whose hope is crucial to allow older adults to age in place and independently will struggle to remain in the city.
5:17:41
The city should also look for opportunities to create housing close to public transportation without disrupting neighborhood character for medium and high density districts New York City should also adopt universal affordability preference, which allows buildings to include at least 20% more housing if the additional homes are permanently affordable.
5:17:59
This would promote economic diversity and inclusion across New York City.
5:18:02
I wanna thank you again for allowing us to testify today, and I will be submitting a longer statement with more detail in writing.
5:18:09
Thank you so much.
Lynn Schulman
5:18:10
Thank you, Kevin.
