Sponsored by: SDG&E Older adults living alone face a unique set of challenges, from transportation and mobility to feelings of isolation. For the last 50 years, ElderHelp has supported San Diego seniors, helping them live independently and thrive in their own homes. ElderHelp CEO Deborah Martin joins our Laura Cavanaugh to share more about their mission. Since 1973, ElderHelp has been providing San Diego seniors with affordable, personalized services and information to help them remain independent and live with dignity in their own homes. The nonprofit organization impacts the lives of more than 7,000 seniors and their families each year by providing vital services such as transportation, advocacy, home safety management, and support for family caregivers. ElderHelp was awarded a $250,000 grant from SDG&E’s Community Assistance Fund. It will help the efforts to keep low-income seniors safely and affordably housed. “The grant has been a Godsend to our team. Last year we held over 900 calls from seniors who were being evicted from their housing, can’t afford it, borderline homelessness. So this grant came at the perfect time for us to remove barriers to housing. The average age of all of the applicants that we’re helping right now is 70, most of them women, most of them being evicted from their place or can’t afford it, living in cars and on couches. We’re trying to remove the barriers by first month’s rent, deposit, moving expenses, getting their belongings out of storage,” said Martin. “We’re trying to remove those barriers that are just one check away from them ending up on the streets.” PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS ONE SENIOR AT A TIME Escalating rent forced Denise from her small North County rental apartment. With nowhere to go, she moved her few possessions to storage while waiting to find new housing. But when she finally found an affordable place, she did not have the funds to hire movers to get her belongings back. Instead, she continued to pay for storage, which took out any wiggle room in her budget. Without a bed, or any furniture, she slept on the floor for three months before a Case Manager connected her with ElderHelp’s Housing Fund Coordinator. Through SDG&E’s Community Assistance Fund, ElderHelp was able to secure Denise’s belongings and have them delivered to her. ElderHelp’s Coordinator shares, “Each case takes hours to see all the way through. It requires coordination between the client, a case manager, if one is involved, landlords, moving companies, and the storage facility. But in the end, it’s so worth it.” Her Case Manager shares, “I just want you to understand what a difference this will make in her life. Your contribution may have truly prevented her from eviction, as paying off these bills each month was cutting her budget so close, she could hardly afford food and rent, and psychologically she could not give up her belongings. We’d tried so many different avenues, but this is the one that worked. Please tell SDG&E and your team what a HUGE difference this grant has made in the life of this senior, keeping her out of crisis, and housed.” The senior population is growing and the demand for help is high. ElderHelp needs more volunteers. Virtual orientations are held monthly. You can make a difference in the lives of seniors. To support, volunteer or to learn more, call (619) 284-9281 or visit www.elderhelpofsandiego.org And to learn more about how SDG&E is powering positive change and for a full list of the grant recipients, visit www.sdge.com/community