Submitted By
Cara Pavlicek, Village Manager
Reviewed By
LKS
Agenda Item Title
Title
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 ("Administration") of the Oak Park Village Code by Adding a New Article 35 ("Aging in Place Commission")
End
Overview
Overview
The Village Board adopted its 2018-2019 Board Goals on February 5, 2018 pursuant to Resolution Number 18-781 and one of its goals is "Service Delivery/Customer Service" and within that "Customer Service" under which is the objective to establish a Commission on Seniors to inform the Village on policies related to aging in place.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Approval.
Fiscal Impact
The Commission will require administrative staff support.
Background
According to United Nations estimates, the number of older persons (60+) will double from the current 600 million to 1.2 billion by 2025, and again, to 2 billion by 2050. The vast majority of older people live in their homes and communities, yet some of these environments that have not been designed with their needs and capacities in mind.
Seniors need access to a spectrum of different housing types. In 2010, there were 5,535 seniors 65 years of age and older living in Oak Park. By 2015, that number grew to 6,194. This was the only age population (65+) to see a significant increase in numbers between 2010 and 2015.
Currently, Oak Park provides seniors many different housing choices. In Oak Park, we know there are almost 1000 households that consist primarily of seniors earning below $50,000 a year and they live in owner occupied housing (homes & condos). These individuals can afford to do so because many have paid off their mortgages and take advantage of the senior citizen tax freeze or tax exemption from Cook County.
Additionally, the Village provides zero interest loans to these seniors who are income eligible households so that they can make needed repairs to their homes. Owners pay back the Village when they sell their homes.
We are hearing from the dev...
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