Affordable Housing Providers Host Boston Mayoral Forum on Senior Issues

Virtual event featuring mayoral candidates Annissa Essaibi George and Michelle Wu to take place Wednesday, October 27 from 4-5 p.m.

A broad coalition of affordable senior housing providers is hosting “Candidate Forum: A Vision For Boston’s Seniors,” with Boston’s mayoral candidates, Michelle Wu and Annissa Essaibi George. The event will take place Wednesday, October 27, from 4-5 p.m. and is free for all to view online at visionforbostonseniors.com. It will be streamed live and translated for non-English speakers after the event.

Visit visionforbostonseniors.com to pre-register.

The event will be co-moderated by Amy Schectman, President & CEO of 2Life Communities, and Walter J. Ramos, President & CEO of Rogerson Communities. Rogerson and 2Life organized this forum to shine a spotlight on the needs and opportunities for older adults in the city. 

"Our more than a dozen co-sponsors, who collectively represent thousands of older adults in Boston, came on board quickly to let the candidates know we are all watching and listening closely and that their approach to engaging older adults is of critical importance to a very large portion of the electorate," said Schectman. "Collectively our residents have extensive wisdom to share, experiences to relate, and insights to offer — but that can’t happen when they have to choose between eating and having heat in the winter or paying for their medicine. Without affordable housing, that’s in fact how they must occupy their time. And we all lose as a society by not having our seniors front and center in civic life.”

“Organizations like Rogerson and 2Life serve thousands of seniors throughout Greater Boston’s diverse communities, promoting independence, longevity, and a sense of community to those in our care,” said Ramos. “As we enter a new political and economic era it is critical that we hear directly from the candidates about how they plan to improve life for seniors and how they will address the significant challenges they face.”

The event will include introductory statements from each candidate, followed by a moderated Q&A program led by Schectman and Ramos, which will incorporate questions from seniors living in affordable housing communities in almost every neighborhood in the city. 

The candidates will be asked to weigh in on issues related to affordable and available housing in a city that continues to grow faster than expected, with older adults the fastest growing and most economically challenged group. They will also be asked about senior engagement and community, accessibility and availability of transit, city support for adult day health and other critical services, and equity. 

In addition to 2Life and Rogerson Communities, the event is co-sponsored by South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation, ACEDONE, Beacon Communities, B’nai B’rith, Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association, Codman Square Neighborhood Development, The Community Builders, Fenway Community Development Corporation, Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center, Hebrew Senior Life, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción, Jewish Community Relations Council, of Greater Boston, Madison Park Community Development Corporation, Massachusetts Assisted Living Association, Massachusetts Association of Community Development Corporations, Preservation of Affordable Housing, Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation, and Trinity Development Management.