Statement of Concern Regarding Residents of Low-Income Residences and COVID-19

Nearly 6,000 older adults live in low-income buildings in Detroit, with approximately 3,400 in Midtown,  Downtown, and the neighborhoods adjacent to the core city. Some of these Detroiters are homebound and may  not be able to shop for groceries or get medical care without assistance. Those who are able to go out should  not due to their age and physical vulnerability to the COVID-19 virus. 

Since the onset of the COVID-19 stay-at-home order, there has been great variation in how safety and health  precautions are implemented by apartment managers in buildings. Some are doing a good job informing residents of precautionary measures to protect the safety of the residents, while others provide limited  information. Some building service coordinators are communicating with senior housing advocates to assure  that residents have proper resources. 

Some senior apartment buildings lack a reliable source of food, essential groceries, and pharmaceuticals.  Regular delivery of these items is needed to assure that the residents do not put themselves at health risk. 

However, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic food delivery and basic information sharing is not enough. A  well-planned and coordinated response is vital to the survival of Detroit’s low-income senior population. This includes a sustained effort that will last until a vaccine, or effective treatment, is discovered. 

The Senior Housing Preservation – Detroit (SHP-D) coalition was established to preserve low-income senior  housing in the Midtown, Downtown and adjacent neighborhoods, and work with the City of Detroit to find  additional residential options for this population. Members include senior housing operators, human service  providers, health agencies, and elected officials. 

While focused on preserving housing for low-income seniors, SHP-D also emphasizes the link between stable  housing and the health and well-being of seniors, and their contributions to the community. Given that,  members of the coalition are organizing around the current crisis. To that end, we recommend the following: 

• Identify buildings/populations at greatest risk. 

• Ensure safety and health of seniors living in low-income residences, including use of common building  areas like hallways, elevators, laundry rooms, and mailrooms. 

• Develop ways to provide food and essential supplies, allowing residents to remain safe in their homes. • Leverage ways to reduce social isolation through telecommunications, activities and other means. • Recognize the challenge of managing senior housing buildings during the pandemic, and how the illness  of frontline staff will affect the safety of residents. 

• Create a communication system to inform seniors about recommended precautions and how to get  essential needs met, with the understanding that the population has limited access to online resources. • Designate a point-of-contact for seniors through a city department or established service provider. • Mobilize the support of elected officials, philanthropic leaders, and others to help create an emergency  safety net for this vulnerable population. 

Contact: Claudia Sanford, Chair, Senior Housing Preservation – Detroit: csanford@shp-d.org.