Lunch & Learn Event Had “Housing Choices” on the Menu

By Devan O’Sullivan

Few informational events will tempt people to venture outside after an epic snowstorm, unless the topic is “affordable housing” and the attendees are desperately seeking it.

On Jan. 27, just 48 hours after a historic snowstorm idled the region, older residents and aging services professionals made their way to the Age-Friendly Teaneck Community Room at 1425 Teaneck Road for advice on how to navigate a different kind of whirlwind – the search for an affordable place to live.

The Lunch & Learn event that lured them was called Finding the Right Fit: Housing Choices for Older Adults, hosted by The Bright Side Family in partnership with Bergen County Department of Senior Services (BCDSS), and the Women’s Rights Information Center (WRIC).

The process of finding senior housing in an expensive region like Bergen County can feel as battering as a blizzard, prompting a host of questions and uncertainty about where to turn, particularly for those experiencing financial hardship.

That is why The Bright Side Family seeks to incorporate housing advice and information into

many of its Secure Futures Programming, a monthly workshop series focused on providing vital information, open to all older adults in Bergen County. Part of our nonprofit’s mission is to ensure people of all incomes and backgrounds can access the resources needed to age in place.

The event included information about the community programs and aging-in-place supports offered by The Bright Side Family, including its flagship affordable assisted living residence Bright Side Manor, its Portable Assisted Living Services (PALS) program, its two affordable senior apartment buildings in Teaneck, and community programs such as Age-Friendly Teaneck, Community Begins at Home, Secure Futures and Senior Checks.

Susan Bendes of WRIC also shared details of that organization’s Shared Housing program, which matches “seekers” – people who need housing - with “providers” who own a home but need to find a roommate in order to split costs and be able to afford stay in their homes. 

Attendees also had opportunity to speak with the BCDSS staff member who produces the monthly Bergen County Housing Navigator Notes newsletter, which offers a continually updated guide to subsidized and other types of affordable housing in the region, as well as other resources that the county agency offers to help people with housing challenges.

In addition to simply receiving information, attendees were able to engage with neighbors, share experiences, and leave with tangible take-home materials to continue their housing planning journey.

“Our goal in hosting this event was to foster connections among residents and the professionals who have some expertise about the systemic obstacles that seniors face to living affordably in Bergen County,” said Alexandra Valdivia, Community Programs Manager for The Bright Side Family. “We also hope that by sponsoring events like this we can make planning for the future feel less overwhelming for residents who are just beginning to think about their retirement years.”

“With the right information and support, older adults can make confident, informed decisions about where and how they want to live,” Valdivia added. “We hope that through collaboration, education, and advocacy, The Bright Side Family can help many of our senior neighbors find the home they can comfortably afford - so that they comfortably weather any storm.”

For information regarding future presentations, email us at sfsw@agefriendlyteaneck.org to make sure you don't miss a topic of importance to you. Want to host a presentation at your club, organization, or center? Please contact Alexandra Valdivia at 201-530-6756.