Senior housing at a crossroads: A case study of a university/community partnership in Detroit, Michigan.

Abstract

The link between housing and health comes to the forefront in times of housing instability and subsequent transition. Recently, several U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-subsidized senior housing units in Downtown Detroit were converted to market-rate apartments. This transition has resulted in the displacement of the senior residents, many of whom have lived in the Downtown neighborhood for decades. As Detroit progresses in its revitalization, it is to be expected that more private interests will be taking over real estate in the city. Considering neighborhood distress and decline in Detroit, it is critical to examine relocation in an urban context, along with its relationship to health and well-being. Knowledge can also be gained about community organizing efforts around a specific issue addressing both trauma and well-being in older adulthood. Lessons learned from the experiences of these and other Detroiters can inform national discourses related to gentrification and, more specifically, the future of HUD housing for older adults. The purpose of this paper is to: (a) document a research/community-based partnership to date, (b) offer an assessment tool specifically addressing relocation concerns of older adults, (c) situate this partnership in national discourses on senior housing, and (d) describe the next steps for this work. This case study aims to highlight a university/community partnership in a city of great change, documenting the courageous work of researchers and practitioners addressing an unintended consequence of development, namely, the displacement of low-income seniors.

Gentrification-Induced Displacement in Detroit, Michigan: An Analysis of Evictions

“…And he came-pro bono-every Wednesday and had group sessions with them so they could verbalize all of their feelings-anger, and various things. (Interview, Detroit, June 29, 2016) However, the impacts of the Griswold conversion are not only confined to the physical 4 and mental health issues that come into play (see Perry et al, 2015) when frail, low-income seniors are forced to move. The impacts also involve the fraying of extant social support networks, which are vital in lower income communities.…”

Advocating for the Preservation of Senior Housing: A Coalition at Work Amid Gentrification in Detroit, Michigan

“…SHP-D's research committee has documented the stress, anxiety, and possible depression related to receiving an eviction notice, locating and securing housing that will take vouchers, the cost of moving, and the logistics of moving (Perry et al, 2015). In addition, displaced seniors face losing familiar connections like friends, grocery stores, places of worship, and transportation.…”

“…The seniors in the building experienced a range of emotions including anger, anxiety, and uncertainty, and contacted agencies providing services to seniors about their concerns. When the plight of these seniors became known to local senior advocacy nonprofits as well as the general public, a group of service providers came together to share information and attempt to solve the problem of finding housing for individuals that would best suit their needs, financial means, and interests, and to begin to look at the macro policies behind this displacement (for more detail on the history, structure and early efforts of the coalition, see Perry et al, 2015Perry et al, , 2017.…”

Preserving Senior Housing in a Changing City: Innovative Efforts of an Interprofessional Coalition

“…In this project, partners collaborated with the grant submission, designed research questions, trained interviewees on interview and participant observation methods, analyzed data, and presented to multiple audiences. Several members of the coalition published an article recounting the work of SHP-D in the journal, Traumatology , titled, “Senior housing at a crossroads: A case study of a university/community partnership in Detroit, Michigan” (Perry, Wintermute, et al, 2015). The article includes a relocation assessment tool for seniors, developed by the coalition, which can be used by other communities facing similar challenges.…”