OCEAN COUNTY – As the cost of living continues to rise, an increasing number of seniors are burdened by exorbitant housing expenses that exceed their fixed incomes. This predicament has forced some to make difficult choices between paying for basic necessities and keeping a roof over their heads.
In a letter addressed to Governor Phil Murphy, Commissioner Director Joseph Vicari asked the state to make funds available for rental and housing assistance for older adults.
“Your age friendly stores, offices and parks are of little use if our parents and grandparents can no longer afford to live in New Jersey,” wrote Vicari. “Perhaps some funds can be diverted from the Age-Friendly program to a senior housing initiative.”
Ocean County is home to approximately 200,000 seniors, as determined by the Older American’s Act, which sets the age of 60 as the benchmark. Of that total, a significant number served the United States in at least one of its military branches.
“We have 20,075 seniors who are over the age of 85,” shared Maria LaFace, Director of Ocean County Office of Senior Services. “Many are starting to outlive their savings.”
At the most recent Ocean County Commissioners’ meeting, Vicari noted there are 96 adult retirement communities within the county. He added that finding affordable housing for local seniors should not be just an Ocean County issue. After all, many who come to the shore area to spend their golden years migrate from other counties throughout the state.
Vicari suggested that the surge of senior citizens moving to Ocean County was initially encouraged by the Ocean County Freeholders in the 1960s. The intention was to create retirement developments akin to those in Florida. However, unlike their Florida counterparts, the Ocean County senior communities are not self-contained and lack convenient access to essential amenities such as businesses and retail stores. This issue compounds the existing housing concerns faced by seniors in the area.
Judy Noonan, the Confidential Aide to Manchester Mayor Robert Arace and Liaison for Senior Communities expressed her support and appreciation for Vicari’s decision to approach the governor. A prior Berkeley councilwoman, Noonan said she has been working on behalf of seniors for more than two decades.
“We have serious issues with seniors being threatened and intimidated with high rents,” Noonan said. “They’re being pushed out.”
During the Commissioners’ meeting, Noonan highlighted what she saw as an alarming trend of landlords advertising in New York to attract tenants, with promises of lower rents. However, Noonan said landlords subsequently exploit the lack of rent control and raise prices at their discretion. Residents have expressed their dismay at the lack of safeguards, fearing they would be priced out of their homes and left with nowhere to go.
Noonan shared the story of a senior resident currently paying $980 for a modest one-bedroom, one-bathroom home. Shockingly, the landlord expressed their intent to increase the rent to $1,400 and delivered an ultimatum to the tenant: either pay the inflated amount or vacate the premises. The increase amounts to a nearly 43 percent raise for someone on a fixed income.
“These seniors have paid their bills, paid their taxes, and raised their children,” continued Noonan. “Now it’s time for them to die so people can raise their rents to these outrageous rents? If they become homeless, where are they going to go?”
While rent costs go up, seniors who rely on social security benefits can’t expect their annual increases to make up for the accelerated expense. The cost of living adjustment (COLA) was a mere 8.7 percent in 2023.
Meanwhile, the affordability crisis for Ocean County seniors extends beyond rentals. Those relocating from counties such as Bergen, Essex, and Morris are often taken aback by the steep prices of homes in retirement developments, which closely mirror the costs of their residences “up north.”
For instance, smaller developments like the Venue at Lighthouse Station and Seacrest Pines in Barnegat boast price tags ranging from the mid-$400s to as high as the mid-$700s. Similarly, Four Seasons at South Knolls in Jackson offers homes priced from the high $300s to the low $500s. Even some older Holiday City developments in Toms River come with asking prices in the $300s.
The notion that Ocean County was an affordable haven for seniors could soon be a myth.
Vicari and the other Ocean County Commissioners don’t want to see a decline in the number of older adults who call the county home. The hope is the governor will divert funds so that seniors can afford to live in New Jersey and not leave the state.
According to Noonan, private associations and management companies are also making decisions that adversely affect seniors. Local government does not have the right to interfere.
Governor Murphy recently announced a plan to cut property tax for seniors over the age of 65. This program, called StayNJ, will take some time to implement. While it does, the ANCHOR property tax rebate will increase for seniors.
Amidst discussions surrounding the challenges of senior housing costs, a sense of empathy arose for a remarkable young man of 102-years-old. Thomas O’Malley, a resident of the Four Seasons in Lakewood, expressed strong opposition to a proposed cell tower that was slated to be erected at the entrance of his retirement community.
O’Malley’s heartfelt plea resonated deeply as he emphasized the health implications for residents, mentioning the prevalence of cancer cases within the community. O’Malley had also reached out to Senator Robert Singer, both in writing and through personal conversations, seeking assistance in resolving this matter.
“I’m a survivor myself,” said O’Malley. “My wife passed away last month, and we have a great percentage of people who have cancer.”
Vicari said he learned from Senator Singer of O’Malley’s issue and discussed it with county counsel. The unfortunate news was that Ocean County Commissioners had no right to intervene. The Commissioner Director suggested O’Malley attend the public hearing in Lakewood to voice his concerns, as the jurisdiction of the issue fell under the control of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rather than the Board of Public Utilities.
While unrelated to affordable housing, O’Malley’s frustration serves as further proof that the challenges of growing old come in unexpected ways.
