Aging and Poverty News
"The month of August has marked the 75th anniversary of a program that has lifted millions of Americans out of poverty and helped them cope with the economic uncertainties of retirement, disability and the death of family wage-earners: Social Security."
"President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act in 1935. Since then, it has unquestionably kept millions of people - most importantly, the elderly and disabled - from the depths of poverty.
"A volunteer team from Rebuilding Together, a nonprofit that updates low-income seniors' homes with safety items such as grab bars and wheelchair ramps, is on the job in his mother's south Sacramento house."
"Five years after the storm, the Mississippi Center for Justice estimates more than 5,000 households affected by the storm still are without permanent housing. Low-income and minority residents near the coastline are most acutely affected..."
"The house, which sits on a particularly bleak block choked by weeds and vacant buildings, wasn't theirs, but it was shelter in the neighborhood where they'd grown up. The siblings are part of a disproportionate number of sick and elderly living in blighted buildings since Katrina..."
"Blueroof also shares data documented at one of its other projects in Oakland: Bellefield Dwellings, a low-income senior living center. "
"The suggestion has raised concern among some advocates for the poor who were hoping that federal authorities would allow the state to open the food stamp program only to recipients of cash assistance for impoverished elderly and disabled people who would not be adversely affected."
"Today, Social Security insures families against the loss of income caused by retirement, disability or death. It provides more than $600 billion in benefits to 51 million people. It lifts more than 35 million older Americans out of poverty."
"'I believe in the promise that was made in 1935 of Social Security as a way to make sure seniors don't fall into poverty," says Rep. Mark Schauer, D-Mich. "My opponent has demonstrated opposition to (its) basic structure.'"
"Even older Americas at the poverty level can get help from the federal Senior Community Service Employment Program. People who are over 50 and have been unemployed for more than six months are eligible"
"Robert 'Ratso' Rizzo's pension could hit $700,000 a year, while residents of low-income Bell pay the second-highest property tax rate in L.A. County to foot the excesses of city leaders."
"Billie Park said her family bought the restaurant in 1982 and used to deliver meals for the Safe Harbor homeless program in Twin Falls. But that program ended in December."
"A $1.5 million construction project to add storage space and an elevator to a public housing facility in Green Bay for low-income elderly and disabled people still is on schedule despite a rainy July."
"Yet not all seniors have had those advantages and for them, aging is a far more dismal picture. The Florida Department of Elder Affairs estimates that more than 400,000 state residents over 60 live below the poverty line and that 800,000 Floridians over 65 are medically underserved."
"The Shuttle-Bug operated between G and M streets SW... providing service to thousands of residents in that area. One of them, Barbara Tillman, said the shuttle had become 'the heartbeat' of the community for many low-income and elderly residents."
"Washington-based EBRI continues to be at the forefront of sounding the alarm that we ought to be more aggressive in preventing people from falling into poverty in their senior years."
"On Aug. 13, Feingold, 80, will step down as president of Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly, a 45-year-old nonprofit with apartment complexes in Brighton and Newton that provide subsidized housing for low-income seniors."
"Uk Do Lee, 81, a retired inventor from South Korea, said he had been trying since April to apply for subsidized medical coverage for low-income older people. The first thing he told a caseworker at one of the agency's offices... was, ''Korean -- no can speak English...''
"Whittle is one of 29 patients who received cataract surgery... Mission Cataract donates one day of surgery to people without the means to pay. To qualify, applicants must be a U.S. citizen without insurance and at or below the national poverty level."
"Lifeline was created 25 years ago to ensure landline phone access was affordable to rural and poor communities. Now, TracFone Wireless has announced a new lifeline program that provides a free cell phone and 60 minutes of free monthly time for emergencies for low-income...[and] elderly..."
"Part of the federally funded Home Energy Assistance Program, the crisis program offers relief for homes with elderly or medically needy people: up to $175 in energy-bill help or an air conditioner. Help becomes available today."
"Low income Atlantic County residents, age 60 and older are encouraged to take advantage of the state's farm market produce voucher program... that provides an opportunity to purchase locally grown produce using $20 worth of free vouchers."
"Their jobless rate may be lower than average, but when an older worker loses a job, it can be devastating. These workers, typically 55 or older, aren't ready to retire. But their years of work experience don't make regrouping to find the next job any easier."
"Low-income seniors in Nebraska can stock up on farmers' market food with help from a federal grant. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture says more than $253,000 is available under the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program."
"Social Security and Medicare are not broken. They are successful, popular programs that protect America's elderly from poverty. Cutting them would be devastating."
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