Housing Options for Seniors – Hopefully Back to Normal

During COVID, not much happened in regard to housing options.

  People were leery of sharing space with people they did not know very well. They were also leery of spending time with people they did know. I was even nervous about being around my grandchildren.

Many of the available options were put on hold. The UC Retirement Center Housing Match program did not take on any new retirees or graduate students for three years.  It is coming back and is in the planning phase right now. They will be partnering with Front Porch for matching graduate students and retirees, but continue the educational and support programs they had before COVID.

A few months ago, a friend told me that she and her husband were going to trade houses with one of their daughters and her family. My friend lived in a large house with a big yard in North Berkeley.  Her daughter and her family lived in a tiny house with a small yard in El Cerrito. Both loved their homes and neighborhoods, but could see the wisdom of trading houses. My friend and her husband had to get rid of lots of their stuff to move to the little house, but are very happy with their new location. They have three daughters and all three are pleased that one of them is living in the big house, that her kids have their own rooms and a big yard to play in.  Sounds like a win-win.

I have another friend who spends a lot of time in Great Britain with her daughter and her family.  They have purchased a shepherd’s hut which they have parked in their front yard so that she has a place of her own. The shepherd’s hut is comparable to the tiny houses which we see here in the U.S. It is still under construction, but I will post photos when it is finished.

Please do not forget to send letters to your city council people and the mayor to show your support for the Berkeley Senior Artists’ Colony. This is very important. For the city council roster or to send to the entire city council, send to this link.