Bill brings seniors together
A new bill attempts to combat isolation amongst seniors by allowing them to rent out spare bedrooms to other older locals.
The very best banter came from Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia, the four funny characters in TV’s The Golden Girls, a show about women living in a retirement community. The friendship between the seniors was heartwarming and the District council is hoping that a new bill nicknamed the “Golden Girl Bill” of 2019 will have the same effect on the city’s elderly residents.
Fred Antigua, who was once homeless, welcomes the bill. PHOTO: KERRY HENTRICH
Formally known as the “Senior Co-Living Program Establishment Act of 2019,” the legislation, introduced in December 2019, attempts to combat isolation amongst seniors over 60 by allowing them to rent out spare bedrooms to other older locals.
It provides a small grant to make changes in the home, such as installing a lock on a bedroom door or meeting other rental regulations. As an incentive to participate in the program, the bill also gives homeowners stipends each month and waives the Basic Business License fee and other associated rental and registration fees. Meanwhile, would-be renters on a fixed income will receive a small stipend to help keep their rents affordable.
Fred Antigua, a once homeless senior, says “this Golden Girl Bill has saved my life. I have been in shelters for many months and now I have a roommate to live with. It is wonderful.”
Meanwhile, Katie Whitehouse, assistant Legislative Director for Councilman-At-Large Robert White, who drafted the original bill says, “We wrote this bill because the cost of housing is going up, the number of seniors is rising and will continue to rise. Middle income seniors are often left without many housing options.”
The bill will create a Senior Co-Living Program in the Department of Housing and Community Development and establish qualifications that one senior citizen must have in order to house another. They include being a resident of D.C., being over the age of 60, having proof that they own the residence and have an executed lease with the new tenant.
“This legislation will reduce some pressure on Medicaid, allow seniors to age-in-place, delay seniors entering facilities, allow senior homeowners to stay in their homes and it can provide them with a source of income,” Whitehouse states.
The bill is currently under council review and will be voted on late April 2020.
