With the number of senior citizens rising to 20 percent of the United States’ total population by the year 2030, Standish has become proactive in exploring affordable senior housing options in its community.
To that end, the Senior Housing Ad Hoc Committee, appointed by the Standish Town Council last February, researched the issue and presented its findings at last Tuesday’s council meeting.
The committee’s mission was to “research the need, define the requirements, and identify possible locations, financing, and development for affordable housing suitable for the needs of senior citizens in Standish.”
The committee’s members, including Chairperson Cindy Hopkins, Pat Cloutier, Joleen Webber, Betty Edwards, Dick Green, Kit Schofield and Gary Willison, achieved their goal by a combination of studying, brainstorming, consulting with experts in the field, and dialoging with the ultimate experts – the seniors, themselves.
Currently, the town has 12 housing units for seniors, with a waiting list of 70 people. The committee set about determining what services would be of greatest value to the senior members of the community.
Conducting a phone survey of over 75 Standish seniors and attending the Steep Falls Senior Citizen meeting, helped the members define specific needs and wants most important to senior citizens.
From these dialogues, seniors’ top priorities include the incorporation of a community room and workshops, food service, transportation, medical support and onsite maintenance personnel.
The committee also looked at how the ordinances would need to be changed to support the development of affordable senior housing, researching types of funding available to finance such a facility.
The group met with representatives of both the Westbrook Housing Authority and the Department of Human Services to learn how best to provide for Standish seniors and to determine the best way to proceed.
In addition, they met with Standish Town Planner Bud Benson, Town Clerk Mary Chapman, and Town Manager Gordon Billington as well as representatives from Standish’s Comprehensive Plan Committee to discuss ordinance changes and other issues to align their goals with those of the town.
After seven months of hard work, the committee brought their recommendations to the council. They included making changes to the Land Use Ordinances, partnering with a housing authority, choosing a convenient location to complement the “village community concept,” and implementing a three-phase plan.
Phase I would provide seniors with a minimum of 250 independent living units over a period of five years.
Phase II, encompassing the following five years, would watch data and trends, expanding the project to match determined requirements.
Phase III would continue the process through an additional five years, researching the possibility of a nursing care facility as well.
“I thought the recommendations were extremely well received by the council,” Billington said. “The members of the committee were all engaged in the process. They saw a need and wanted to help.”
“I think the committee did a wonderful job,” said Standish Town Councilor Dolores Lymburner. “I think it’s an issue that needs to be addressed in this town. There will be an order on the thirteenth (the next council meeting) to extend the life of that committee. I think it has community support.”
Many Standish residents appear to be encouraged by the town’s foresight.
Elizabeth Perry, who was employed by the Bureau of Elder and Adult Services before her retirement, supports the idea of senior housing.
“I really believe all communities need to have a resource like this,” Perry said. “It would certainly be a benefit to Standish. It allows people to stay in their own community near family and friends and close to doctors, dentists and shopping.”
And Standish resident Eva Langley said, “It would be a great idea – I’m 86 and live alone but I don’t know for how long.”
Committee Chairwoman Cindy Hopkins was very positive about the process, their findings and the rapport between the committee’s members.
“It was a wonderful experience,” she said. “I would be willing to bet by the time my term is up in June that there will be an ordinance change and a partnership (with a housing authority) or at least a plan in place. I’m a little pit bull and so is Betty (Edwards). I don’t see us stumbling on this one.”
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