Housing options for older adults

reasons.

Living And Aging Well

New housing opportunities planned for older adults, reverse mortgages, and other housing strategies will be discussed at the Seniors’ Council of Douglas County meeting on ursday, March 2 from 10-11:30 a.m. Artie Lehl, deputy director of the Douglas County Housing Partnership, will talk about these important topics. Older adults as well as the general public are invited to this free presentation at the Philip S. Miller Building, 100 ird Street, Castle Rock. New housing as well as established older adult housing will be described by Lehl, whose organization is located in Lone Tree. Senior housing is an option that appeals to many for various

Letter To The Editor

Push back against extremism

I read the recent letters from women defending the FEC and its militia branch the UDAF (United American Defense Force). FEC United and UDAF were founded by opportunists and virulent election deniers, Joe Oltmann and John Tiegen. I don’t doubt his heroism in Benghazi (2012), but here and now he is an advocate of repression who hints at violence in his carefully chosen words. He makes money from fear mongering and rousing his band of pseudo-patriots. True patriots respect the Constitution and rule of law.

Non-service members normalizing excessive military gear in public is a tactic of the bully. is trend is happening across our country; often playing out in school board meetings, election o ces and other places that have a true vested interest in our democracy.

ese are true patriots. ank you to our federal DOJ in backing free speech and assisting ordinary citizens in pushing aside egregious behavior designed to limit opposition. All Americans, especially in our community have earned the right to be worried.

Another statement from the FEC supporter claimed they want a “common culture” in the schools. I’m alarmed by this statement. Is what de nes the “common culture” based solely on the religious teaching of far-right extremists? We’ve seen hateful rhetoric couched in the Bible by selecting passages that supposedly speak to their views. Americans, especially in our community, have seen the violence fomented by FEC and UDAF. Last year’s gathering at e Rock Church sponsored by FEC/UDAF called for the hanging of public o cials and the audience applauded. Free speech is always appropriate but hate and inciteful speech is harassment and threat speech.

I will do my part to motivate reasonable, average citizens to show up at the school board and other meetings where the FEC/UADF is counting on intimidation. Calling out people who do not believe as you do as evil or defective … is the cornerstone of fascism. Not Christianity.

Information on how to obtain in-depth, free, one-on-one counseling will be presented. ere are options available to older adults to help obtain suitable housing Lehl will provide an overview of reverse mortgage lending including the pros and cons of using this type of loan. Reverse mortgages can be used to create additional retirement funds and to eliminate mortgage payments.

Some older adults wish to age in place and some want to explore a different lifestyle, whether in a ordable senior housing or a multigenerational community. It is good to have options!

I leave you with two thoughts: America is a plural democracy, there is no single culture embraced by all and as Rev. Graham said, “Courage is more contagious than fear.” See you at public meetings. Just Say No to Extremism. Katie Barrett, Castle Rock

Get out of the way Race is a social construct. If you don’t know what that is, look it up. Learn about Kimberlé Crenshaw, Kendall omas and Patricia Williams. It is important to understand what Critical Race eory is and isn’t. And even without the de nition, I challenge those opposed to it to ask themselves why confronting our history and the intersectionality of di erent forms of discrimination causes such fear. Are you actually concerned for your kids or for yourself? If you are white and cis-gender and full of fear, I would expect that you are opposed to anything related to CRT as it challenges the status quo. It challenges you to look at how our history has continued to contribute to the oppression of many groups of people who are not white. ere is a racial hierarchy that has been set in place and if you identify as white, you are at the top of this contrived hierarchy. So it makes sense that if your placement on the top rung is threatened, you would do anything to challenge anything that would upset this placement. You would challenge speaking truth about our history because it would cause you to evaluate all that you have incorrectly learned and internalized.

If you have never experienced racism and you are opposed to a No Place For Hate program in schools, you are part of the problem of perpetuating systemic inequity, white supremacy and continued racism in this country. What is the problem you have with a program whose title states that hate has no place, meaning, let’s try to gure out how to create space for everyone. White people have always had a place. How about we let go of ego and fear and embrace elevating those who have been marginalized and oppressed? I challenge you, fearful white people, e Douglas County Housing Partnership (DCHP), a multi-jurisdictional housing authority, was formed in 2003 as a cooperative e ort between businesses and local and county government. e DCHP operates withnancial support from the jurisdictions of the City of Lone Tree, the Town of Castle Rock, the Town of Parker, the City of Castle Pines, and Douglas County as a political subdivision and public corporation of the State of Colorado. Information is available at https://douglascountyhousingpartnership.org. is column is hosted by the Senior’ Council of Douglas County. e group’s motto is Living Well/Aging Well. Meetings are generally the rst to tell me how social justice (justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities and privileges) and activism (using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change) would be negative actions for our kids to embrace? Seems to me like they encourage critical thinking and understanding that the world does ursday of the month at various locations in Douglas County and are open to the public at no charge. Is there a topic you’d like addressed in the future? Please get in touch. Seniors’ Council invites older adults to get involved and to keep learning. not revolve around them and their comfort.

For more information and program updates, visit www.douglas. co.us/community-services, email DCSeniorLife@douglas.co.us, or call 303-663-7681. Some meetings are available virtually. Please check the website for current information and links. You may request our electronic newsletter First Friday Update by email. Connect on Facebook at facebook.com/MyDougCoSeniorLife.

Or … is the pie not big enough for all to share? Zero sum?

I have my hope in our students. Parents and adults are getting in the way of growth and progress. Get out of the way.

Becca Jay, Roxborough

and when we can remember to tune into WIIFT, it really will be a better than good life.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.