How innovative ideas in housing and transportation will benefit communities

This article was written for our sponsor, AARP North Carolina

For decades, people have watched and withstood incredible fluctuations in the housing market. The unpredictability in both affordability and availability of homes can lead to incredible stress for young homebuyers and for older adults who are hoping to retire and continue to live in their communities. Likewise, the increased population has led to traffic woes throughout the Triangle, Triad and beyond. Adults of all ages are looking for options in transportation.

Fortunately, the Triangle is implementing thoughtful housing solutions and is on the cusp of exciting innovations in transportation.

Housing

Health and income affect the type of housing people can live in, and the comfort of that housing is affected by its condition, location, land features and more. Also, for older adults or adults with accessibility issues, there are considerations surrounding day-to-day livability in regard to whether it has stairs, a bathroom and bedroom on the main floor, and wide hallways and doorways.

When a home that someone has lived in for years is no longer viable because it has become unsafe or inaccessible, the only option used to be to move out. For the health of everyone involved, that mindset has changed.

"The highest priority is to keep people in homes they’re in right now," said Dan Curry, a Greensboro city planner with four decades of experience. "The least expensive and most viable solution is to figure out what they need to stay in their homes. Accessibility to health upgrades, being closer to family — those things allow someone to stay in their home as long as they want to. Anything that can be done to keep someone in their home is going to be the best."

However, some people may not be able to afford updates, which is where nonprofit Community Housing Solutions in Guilford County comes in.

"We’re providing human services, serving an important need for low-income homeowners," said Gene Brown, executive director of Community Housing Solutions. "We operate like a construction company, and we work with volunteers in the community."

Through the organization, older adults with low incomes who need help making their homes safe can enroll in the Community Aging in Place, Advancing Better Living for Elders program — called CAPABLE — that pairs them with occupational therapists and registered nurses, often for free. These professionals help brainstorm how to address issues, provide health education and training, and recommend low-cost modifications.

One issue the program may address is water damage.

"When I started 15 years ago, I began to see the No. 1 cause of repairs is water damage," Brown said. "A leaking roof, toilet, faucet, or drain line that gets into sheetrock and wood can lead to mold and mildew. That can lead to respiratory issues and aggravate things like asthma and breathing issues."

Community Housing Solutions can also help with other updates:

• Installing grab bars, universal design toilets, or hand-held shower heads.
• Building or repairing exterior steps, hand railings, or ramps.
• Repairing or replacing broken flooring and removing carpet from hardwood floors.
• Improving lighting.

Improving accessibility prevents falls, a major concern for older adults, with over 36 million falls reported every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Some people are prisoners in their own home," Brown said. "When we provide services to address their concerns [especially in regard to falling], they talk about the freedom that brings."

"For these folks, preserving the wealth they have, it’s so important for their family and the people they love," Brown said.

Helping people keep their homes is not only beneficial now but lets them pass on property to children. Also, allowing adults to age in their family homes can open up opportunities for young adults. Instead of small homes and ranches, which tend to be more affordable, being purchased as retirement homes, they will be available for first time homebuyers and young professionals.

Transportation

Jerry Jensen has been the Transportation Director for the Town of Cary since 2017, and has been employed with the Town of Cary since 2010. He has seen incredible growth in that time and says that there need to be equitable solutions happening right now.

"Our focus in equitable transportation is for the benefit of all Cary citizens, not just our aging population," Jensen said.

The comprehensive plan they are working toward is called the, ‘Imagine Cary Community Plan,’ and includes a robust framework for transportation solutions. While these updates are often designed with a senior population in mind, they will truly benefit all citizens. Examples of these updates include:

• GoCary’s Door to Door transit service and a transportation option that specifically frequents the larger senior living communities.
• Improvements to bus stops so they are ADA compliant.
• A commitment to building more sidewalks (there are currently over 40 sidewalk projects being developed.)
• The construction and improvement of the greenway system to allow for more walkable and bikeable transit through town.

Additionally, Jensen said Cary is on the verge of making innovative technological leaps. The Connected Vehicle project is a $2 million project that will create a web of communication between cars, traffic signals, school zone safety beacons, emergency vehicles and intersections to improve safety and decrease the likelihood of accidents. The pilot program is the result of a matched federal grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Town of Cary. It is the first of its kind in North Carolina.

Another exciting pilot is happening with Autonomous Vehicles. Cary will deploy an electronic autonomous vehicle to serve as a shuttle in Bond Park. The hope is that this will increase awareness of AVs and continue to improve safety and transportation options.

When housing and transportation concerns lessen, individuals within a community have an increased sense of both safety and freedom.

Jensen said, "The ability to age in place is important to seniors, their families and the communities they’ve built. Mobility is key to ensuring seniors enjoy and maintain access to the places and people important to them. Transportation choice -whether it's transit, walking, biking or driving- supports seniors in their goal to enjoy a healthy, active and independent lifestyle."

This article was written for our sponsor, AARP North Carolina