Housing for older adults is a crisis in London, Ontario and nationwide; older adults need affordable and accessible housing right now. Specifically, there is an urgent need for rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing for older adults in London-Middlesex. This response is in regard to the pressing issues of the many social crisis impacting older adults right now. These include the exacerbated impacts of COVID-19, rising housing costs, inadequate retirement homes, and the implications of the social determinants of health.

The development of this petition is to acquire a community-wide response to one of our community’s most urgent issues. We can accomplish a great deal when we collaborate; our goal is to move efficiently, work together and help reduce London’s housing crisis for older adults. We are striving to give older adults affordable and accessible places to live and build a community that they will be able to maintain themselves and live comfortably as they age.

We need to provide appropriate rent-geared-to-income housing for older adults in London, Ontario. This will address the needs for older adults as their rent will be based on their income, therefore, it will be affordable to them. Generally, you pay about 30% of your gross monthly income on rent and the rest is subsidized by the government or a private organization. Housing needs to be suitable and accessible to the needs of older adults, this means wheelchair accessible, suitable for multigenerational housing types, clear access for mobility, elevators in operation, optimal lighting, etc. Therefore, implementing these considerations will reduce the negative impacts of inadequate housing, and will benefit the ageing population. By focusing on RGI housing and the needs for older adults, we can create a community that has the care it needs to age friendly.