Kara-Leigh Bloch
SENIORS SERVICES SOCIETY OF BC
“The Little Agency that Could . . . ”
T
he work of what has become Seniors Services Society of BC began in the 1970s in New Westminster. The mandates of the two agencies that amalgamated to form Seniors Services Society (Seniors Housing Information Program Society and the Western Society for Seniors Citizens Services) hold true today. Seniors Services Society provides local and provincial programs and services to support vulnerable older adults to live as independently as possible. Today, Seniors Services Society of BC has 12 staff members and over 100 volunteers focusing on ensuring seniors have the tools they need to live safe and healthy lives in homes that are affordable and appropriate for their needs. Locally in New Westminster for those who wish to live independently, the Society operates a wide range of services such as Meals on Wheels, Better at Home programs (housekeeping, shopping, friendly phone calls, and medical transportation), and social outings. Across Metro Vancouver, they offer one-on-one outreach, counselling, and navigation for seniors in housing distress.
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Our mission may not have changed much over the years, but the scope of the work we do at Seniors Services Society has grown considerably.
Our mission may not have changed much over the years, but the scope of the work we do at Seniors Services Society has grown considerably. The need has grown. The baby boom generation has greyed. Over 25 percent of the population of BC is now over 60 years of age. The new wave of those over 60 will need more health services, more age-appropriate housing, and often navigation tools to connect to the services they need. Unfortunately, pensions have not kept up to the cost of living in BC and many seniors are having difficulty paying the bills and covering basic necessities. Approximately 70,000 seniors are living below the poverty line in BC— the highest rate across Canada. Homelessness or the risk of homelessness has become the biggest issue facing low-income seniors. Over 23 percent of those who are homeless in Metro Vancouver are over 60 years The Society of Notaries Public of British Columbia
of age. Many are well into their 70s and 80s, often homeless for the first time. Seniors make up a large portion of the hidden homeless population. Agencies across the province are noticing a dramatic increase in the number of seniors who are coming to them in housing crisis, living in their cars, tents, couch-surfing, or street homeless. Rapidly rising rental rates, the availability of rental housing at less than 1 percent, and an increasing cost of living make it very hard to find a place to live. Many agencies do not have the resources or tools to handle the specific needs of the growing numbers of seniors in crisis. Seniors Services Society is the only agency in BC that works exclusively with seniors in housing crisis and receives calls and referrals from across the province. Last year, Seniors Services assisted 6000 seniors over the phone and in person and over 24,000 browsed the Seniors Services website for housing navigation and support. The majority of Seniors Services housing programs are currently available only in Metro Vancouver. To meet the growing need and fill the void for seniors who need help with their housing situation across Volume 27 Number 3 Fall 2018
