It has been a busy 2017 at the Center for Senior Services (CSS), and we are pleased to report on our advocacy efforts. Throughout the year we have been advocating on a wide range of senior issues relating to health care (Medicare and Medicaid), Social Security and affordable housing. Our work included meetings on Capitol Hill, organizing tours of B’nai B’rith sponsored buildings and co-sponsoring rallies on affordable housing. During the year we were excited that our work was noted by the Jewish Telegraph Agency (JTA), The Times of Israel and the New York Jewish Week.

Our advocacy efforts went into high gear in March when the White House’s proposed 2018 “skinny” budget was released, which called for a 13 percent reduction in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s budget. A few months later when the administration’s more detailed budget was announced, B’nai B’rith was severely disappointed that Section 202, which is housing that was developed for low-income seniors, was underfunded and the White House proposed a rental increase for residents. 

Staying on top of the issue, the CSS team started visiting senator and representative’s offices on Capitol Hill that represent B’nai B’rith sponsored buildings. Specifically, we met with offices that work on the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. These committees are responsible for writing legislation that funds rental subsidies for the Section 202 program.  During the course of these meeting we explained to staff members how damaging the White House’s budget would be for low-income Section 202 residents. While the 2018 budget has not been finalized we are hopeful that our advocacy efforts on Capitol Hill will lead to the Section 202 program being funded more. 

In addition, we followed up those visits by inviting members of Congress and their staff to tour B’nai B’rith Section 202 buildings throughout the country. We are pleased to report that Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.), Grace Meng (D-N.Y.) and Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), representing both political parties, toured our sponsored properties.  Furthermore, three of the four members who visited B’nai B’rith sponsored buildings work on the Appropriations Committees. These tours were a fantastic opportunity for members of Congress to see the benefits of the Section 202 program, and gave residents a chance to speak with their elected representative. Residents were able to directly tell their member of Congress the vital role Section 202 housing plays in their lives.

B’nai B’rith was also pleased to co-host with LeadingAge the “Save HUD 202” Rally and partner with the National Low Income Housing Coalition for the “National Housing Day of Action” over the summer. These rallies took place on Capitol Hill and featured representatives and senators who spoke about the need for affordable housing. We were certainly delighted  members of Congress who represent B’nai B’rith sponsored buildings attended the event. 

Our advocacy during the course of the year didn’t just stop with affordable housing. We spoke out against the White House and Congress’ attempts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). After analyzing various proposed bills, B’nai B’rith was very concerned how these policies could negatively impact seniors. For example, many of the proposed replacement bills would have cut critical funding to Medicaid, allowed older Americans to be charged more for insurance, repealed vital taxes that help fund Medicare and waive important regulations that protect health care consumers. We spoke out on these issues by releasing press releases, blogs and joined with liked minded organizations opposing this legislation in a full page advertisement in Politico.   

Recently, B’nai B’rith has been very vocal against the recently passed tax reform legislation. We expressed serious reservations about this bill because of the damaging impact it could have on funding for Medicare and Medicaid attributable to rising deficits that will give cover to members of Congress to slash spending. In addition, the negative consequences repealing the ACA’s individual mandate will have on older Americans. We brought our concerns straight to congressional offices during our regular scheduled Capitol Hill visits regarding Section 202. However, we certainly applaud Congress for not eliminating the Low Income Housing Tax Credit which is critical for affordable housing construction, and the medical expense deduction which is incredibly important to countless seniors with high health care costs.
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The CSS team embarks on 2018 looking to continue our success from 2017. We will certainly look to invite more members of Congress and their staff to B’nai B’rith sponsored buildings, and advocate for the Section 202 program and other policies that are vital to seniors. 

If you were retired and living in an apartment community, would you want to live in a building totally isolated from your neighbors, or would you want to live in a vibrant community with a wide variety of programs and activities? Wouldn’t you want to live where you and your neighbors get to know one another, and are able to provide one another with mutual support through the good times and bad?   

Luckily, in the B’nai B’rith Senior Housing network, a dedicated group of resident volunteers makes sure it is the latter, through their individual buildings’ “Residents Council” or “Association.” 

The membership of each Residents Council is comprised of all the residents in that particular building. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Council is the voice in the community, and acts a liaison between management and the residents, as well as between the residents and the general neighborhood. Another significant role for every Council is to create programming and activities for the tenants. The Councils develop and carry out programs which they feel will improve the social and economic status of their residents.  

Moreover, the Council truly enhances the “quality of life” in their respective housing developments, creating a sense of community, shared responsibility and inspiring residents to have a feeling of civic pride in their homes. A key part of this is involving all members in the planning and execution of activities, whether it is an ice cream social or a senior prom.

Senior housing communities that have a well functioning Residents Council, besides just benefiting the residents, also will have benefits for management. Working together on solving community problems allows management to have a better, more satisfying relationship with their tenants, creating a sense of respect instead of mutual distrust.  Management can work with the Council to combat problems that affect all residents, such as residents propping open outside doors, people not cleaning up after their dogs, or any other issues that can impact people living in such close proximity in congregate housing. Although not required, HUD is very supportive of each Residents Council in all HUD subsidized buildings.

Recognizing how important these associations are for the tenants, Mark Olshan, Ph.D., director of the B’nai B’rith Center for Senior Services, created a program almost 30 years ago to provide training for these resident leaders of the B’nai B’rith buildings. The first Resident Leadership Retreat took place over three days. Over time, staff realized that it was such a wonderful opportunity, and with so much to learn, the retreat was eventually expanded to six days. 

The retreat takes place every other summer at B’nai B’rith Perlman Camp, located in the scenic mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania, and is open to two residents from each of our U.S. and Canadian housing communities. One of the best parts of the program is that the retreat takes place while the young campers are still there.  

The retreat features a variety of workshops conducted by staff from the B’nai B’rith Center for Senior Services including: how to run a tenants’ association, how to plan activities and programs for their fellow residents, how to recruit and retain volunteers, how to write newsletters and ideas to celebrate the diversity in our buildings. Sessions also provide icebreakers encouraging participants to network and learn from one another. A highlight of the camp experience is the opportunities for intergenerational activities with the elementary through high school population at camp. These programs include Israeli dancing and singing lessons, Shabbat services and various social events.

But that’s not all. The program is designed to be a memorable experience not just for the seniors who attend, but to be a benefit to all of the residents of our housing communities. Each participant is given the opportunity to learn skills so that when they go back to their buildings, they are able to make a difference in the lives of their fellow residents with a strong Residents Association. 

In early August, 36 residents will be attending the next Resident Leadership Retreat. Hear from residents who took part in the 2013 retreat:

As the largest national Jewish sponsor of federally subsidized senior housing in the United States, the B’nai B’rith Center for Senior Services (CSS) mission is to provide housing for low-income seniors in need, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability. The CSS network comprises 42 buildings in 27 communities, serving 8,000 residents every year. 

Once a B’nai B’rith senior apartment building opens its doors, a lot of effort goes into making it more than just a place to live. The buildings are more than just “bricks and mortar,” they are a community with support and activities. Along with dedicated staff, volunteers are the key to helping make the building a home, for all that live there. 

Each building was initially the vision of a small group of B’nai B’rith members that realized there was a need in the community for affordable senior housing. Forming a volunteer board of directors, they oversee the entire building process from beginning to end. Once the building has opened, the local board of directors does not manage the building, per se, but oversees the operation of the facility by hiring building management, which is no small task. It is the volunteers of the board who are ultimately responsible to the residents, and to HUD. 

Most boards are comprised of approximately 15 members from the greater community, with terms of service averaging two to three years. The board meets monthly, or every other month. However, most board members spend much more time in their board role than just attending a meeting. The officers of the board are the official face of the building, and, therefore, hold a lot of responsibility for a volunteer. They are the ones reviewing and approving documents with HUD, making sure there is an annual audit and signing financial documents. 

A lot is demanded of the board members, and they do not take this responsibility lightly. Each board member has been recruited for their expertise. An accountant is able to advise the board regarding the monthly financial statements, and an attorney can help the rest of the board understand a legal proceeding. A great source for prospective board members is former staffers that have retired or taken a new position. These types of members are a great way for the board to understand issues from a management perspective, as well as making balanced decisions.

Although all of the buildings were originally sponsored by B’nai B’rith, there is a very diverse community of residents. Events that are held at the property are most successful when they reflect that particular resident base. The board of directors may sponsor a Seder over Passover or build a Sukkah during Sukkot. In either case, the event is open to ALL residents. They also sponsor holiday parties that may include lighting the menorah and decorating a Christmas tree, holding a Chinese New Year’s celebration, or honoring veterans on Russian Victory Day in May. 

Beyond the members of the board, there are many more opportunities for individuals to volunteer and provide programming for the residents. One building has volunteers that run a fused glass jewelry making class, in which the residents make and then are able to sell as a fundraiser for the Resident Association. Most buildings have partnered with local schools—elementary, secondary, high school and college-age volunteers—to provide intergenerational programming. This may range from playing games, to dance performances, or even a joint sewing class: whatever makes for a fun program. The sky is the limit! 

The largest group of volunteers in the building would be the residents themselves. From the volunteer floor monitors who check up on their neighbors and answer questions, to arranging book clubs, movie screenings, bingo—whatever the residents are interested in attending, the possibilities are endless! After all, they more than anyone know what activities the residents will attend. 

The best way to make sure the residents of each building are involved in the building activities is through the Resident Association. Open to ALL residents, these associations generally conduct monthly meetings, provide programming and events for the residents, as well as work with management and the board of directors to solve problems or to disseminate information to the residents. It might be smokers not using the designated smoking area, or people not cleaning up after their pets, both of which are concerns for both management and the residents. Working together, representatives from the board, management and the Resident Association helps to create an atmosphere of mutual understanding and cooperation. 

We at the B’nai B’rith Center for Senior Services are very supportive of the Resident Associations, and provide training to the officers of each association at our Resident Leadership Retreat. Held every other summer, two officers of each association attend a week long retreat to learn how to be better leaders. They also share ideas and network, as well as have some fun, since the Retreat is held at a summer youth camp while the camp is in session. 

Volunteers do make a difference!

This Expert Analysis piece is dedicated to a longtime volunteer that we lost this past March. Gloria Miller, better known as “Gloria from Peoria,” served on the board of directors and was the volunteer activities director of the Sam J. Stone B’nai B’rith Covenant House Apartments in Peoria, Ill. Gloria also served on the board of directors of the B’nai B’rith Apartments of Deerfield Beach, Fla., and was the longtime chair of the B’nai B’rith Resident Leadership Retreat. 

She was my mentor, and I learned so much from her. May her memory serve as a blessing.