In November 2023, the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas (AAAPP) hosted two Senior Housing Roundtable Discussions in partnership with the Pinellas Community Foundation and Community Foundation of Tampa Bay The roundtables took place on Wednesday November 29 in Pinellas County and on Thursday, November 30 in Pasco County. Stephen Ferrante of Group Victory facilitated both sessions. Representatives from both Counties, several Housing Authorities, non-profit organizations who build and manage affordable housing developments, as well as a few developers participated in these discussions. 

Our Board of Directors’ strategic plan includes addressing an unmet senior need in Pinellas and Pasco counties, the geographic area our organization serves.  The unmet need that the Board and staff identified is housing insecurity. The goals are to:

1. Prevent senior homelessness
2. Advocate for additional safe, accessible and affording housing for seniors

Housing insecurity ranks as the number 2 reason seniors reach out to our helpline, with more than a 40% increase in those calls over the last 18 months. Additionally, and as you probably know, nationally seniors are the highest population experiencing homelessness for the first time over any other demographic.
 
Our objectives for these Roundtables were to:

1. Bring stakeholders together to specifically discuss senior affordable housing
2. Obtain commitments that we will collectively advocate for more affordable and accessible housing
3. Identify short, medium, and long term strategies to increase affordable housing by understanding and addressing barriers to entry

We appreciate this initiative is bold, will require hard work, leadership, and engaged partners.  Our communities are ready to take on this challenge.