WEST PALM BEACH — Some seniors in our community are struggling and scared. It's the grim reality of today's housing market in South Florida.
|
Arelene Paukert explains the financial problems she has encountered since the death of her husband. |
"The expenses have gone beyond what I
can possibly handle," Watkins said. "I don't see how I'm
going to be able to afford it without additional outside
help financially."
WPTV also spoke with 69-year-old Suzanne Andreozzi on her
lunch break.
"I work 40 hours a week, work a full-time job," Andreozzi
said.
After a day at work, she told WPTV that she goes home to a
room and bathroom that she rents from a 33-year-old
coworker.
"She's young and stuff. She's a nice person. We're just not
compatible because I am older," Andreozzi said. "I've always
had my own place, and to be like this, is like, it's
devastating."
A recent survey by the United States Census Bureau of
seniors 65 and older across the country found 32% think
they're "somewhat likely" to be evicted in the next two
months. The number is 80% in Florida.
"That number is shocking," Ken Johnson, a housing and
real-estate economist at Florida Atlantic University said.
"That number shouldn't be that high. That's not good for our
economy."
Johnson said migration and a shortage of housing units are
to blame for driving up rents, with renters in our area
spending 16.75% more than they should, according to
October's Waller, Weeks and Johnson Rental Index.
He told WPTV that Palm Beach County needs roughly 7,400 new
units a year to catch just the incoming population.
Currently, he said we're building at a rate of about 3,600
units a year.
"With a great likelihood, we're going to see an affordable
crisis that can stretch out over a number of years," Johnson
said. "I think this problem will be especially chronic for
seniors."
Jaclyn Tureff with Ruth and Norman Rales Jewish Family
Services in Boca Raton told WPTV that the demand for
financial assistance has increased.
"About five to seven seniors a week are calling that they
cannot afford their apartments anymore or they're afraid of
being evicted," Tureff said. "It's real. It's happening. All
seniors are being affected by this."
Tureff explained how they're now trying to connect
homeowners with renters as a possible solution for some
seniors.
"They are seniors. They worked hard," Tureff said. "A lot of
them came here to retire for a better life, and now they're
struggling."