Ncoa S Economic Security Initiative

HELP US HELP SENIORS MORE EFFECTIVELY: NCOA’S ECONOMIC SECURITY INITIATIVE

Many older Americans have seen their personal and employer supported retirement savings diminished with no guarantees that they will rebound. They are encountering multiple challenges getting their health, housing, employment, and personal financial needs met. With less income, individuals often balance the books on credit, forego necessary medical care and let bills mount. In addition, they become vulnerable to predatory lending, debt, foreclosure and bankruptcy.

NCOA and other community agencies are overwhelmed with a greater than ever number of pleas for “traditional” assistance and are also hearing about economic problems commonly calling for complex solutions. These unique and complex requests often involve multiple interventions.

During this economic downturn, NCOA invites service providers, advocates, policymakers, business leaders, and other community partners to consider innovative approaches to collaboration and coordination. Resources are limited and the need for efficiency is critical. It is time for a 21st century approach to ensuring economic stability and security for seniors.

Currently, there are few places where distressed seniors will receive a comprehensive economic review and learn about all public and private opportunities to get on a pathway to economic security. Most non-profit and for-profit organizations specialize in helping with one aspect of a low-income older adult’s situation. There are a variety of community resources that, in the right combination, may help alleviate the economic distress of many seniors. Often due to program requirements, these services are not successfully coordinated. As a result, a senior must go to many different locations seeking help, perhaps meeting a discrete need, but rarely finding comprehensive assistance which will get them on a path to financial stability.

In response to the recognition of this difficulty exacerbated by the current economic crisis, NCOA created the Economic Security Initiative to address the needs of economically disadvantaged older Americans more effectively. The Core Elements of the project are as follows:

FINANCES: Credit counseling/debt mitigation, financial literacy, daily money management, consumer protection or remedies for financial abuse;

HOUSING: Foreclosure mitigation, home repair, housing options counseling, renter’s assistance, including warranty of habitability, and eviction defense and protection, reverse mortgage counseling;

PUBLIC BENEFITS: Eligibility and enrollment to the range of sustenance benefits, emergency aid – food, fuel, housing, health care;

JOBS: Employability assessment, job training, job placement;

Created by Family Service Agency of San Francisco as part of NCOA’s Economic Security Initiative Demonstration Project. HEALTH: health insurance counseling; mental health services;

SUPPORTIVE SERVICES: Home & community-based waiver services, food and nutrition services, transportation;

LEGAL SERVICES: Benefits access, foreclosure mitigation, eviction prevention, habitability remedies, and debt collection remedies.

NCOA’s initiative seeks to develop and demonstrate holistic, community-based responses to the needs of economically disadvantaged seniors addressed in these core elements:

 Person-centered approach to economic case management;

 Comprehensive assessment upon intake;

 Coordination of a broad range of potential benefits, supports and assistances, as well as personal advocacy;

 Community-wide engagement of diverse service providers

 attuned to particular challenges facing seniors and knowledgeable of the full range of options available to seniors;

 Optimal use of technology and volunteers;

 Public and private partnerships.

With the cooperation of diverse community partners, NCOA hopes to develop an effective response to the current crisis facing seniors by building partnerships and networks among service providers, economic development organizations, government agencies and non-profits. Together, these networks can provide seniors quick access to a full spectrum of services and supports to help them become financially secure. We invite you to become a partner in this endeavor.

Through you commitment to this project you can expect to:

 Participate in a community-based effort designed to improve the quality of services provided to economically disadvantaged seniors;

 Collaborate with other partners to bring the strength of cohesion to the delivery of community services;

 Receive media coverage in support of your public relations efforts for your partnership activities;

 Make an impact on national policy changes to increase the ability for seniors to achieve economic security. PLEASE JOIN US!

For more information, please contact us:

Created by Family Service Agency of San Francisco as part of NCOA’s Economic Security Initiative Demonstration Project.