Silver Key understands the importance of offering affordable quality housing and housing navigation services to seniors in our community. We are currently working to expand options in the future by adding housing as a service pillar.
Silver Key has made the commitment to develop a new affordable senior housing complex as an addition to our current campus.
Support for this initiative will help to combat senior housing challenges and isolation in the Pikes Peak region amid the affordable housing shortage which is a public health crisis that ultimately impacts us all.
Silver Key is a health care - human service entity that serves seniors who face unique challenges and barriers that we are distinctly best suited to lead and serve on making a difference.
For questions, comments, or other community feedback please share with us related to the project.
Stable housing is associated with better health. Coloradans lacking stable housing are more likely to report poor physical, mental, and oral health. The cost of housing affects people’s ability to afford other necessities, including food and health care.
The cost of housing affects people’s ability to afford other necessities, including food and health care.
Four Health Impacts of Housing
Three in five Coloradans (60%) say their community is in a housing crisis. But only 34% think housing is closely tied to health. Many aspects of housing, ranging from the quality of a home to its affordability, have been shown to affect the health of residents. A framework published in Health Affairs describes four pathways that demonstrate the connection between housing and health.
- Stability: Securing and keeping housing can promote good physical and mental health.
- Safety and quality: Poor housing conditions such as allergens and lack of ventilation can lead to chronic health issues.
- Affordability: Lack of affordable housing can lead to displacement and limit the ability to access other needs, such as food or health care.
- Neighborhood: Physical and social characteristics such as parks and businesses can promote well-being
The volume and financial costs of requests for services related to housing and housing navigation have increased exponentially.
Average rents and home prices continue to increase at remarkable rates. Seniors make up approximately 13% of the population in El Paso County (projected to be 25% by 2050-more than a 90% increase).
More than half of Coloradans who reported housing instability (54.2%) had problems paying for food, compared with 6.1% who did not report housing instability. And of those without stable housing, 51.9% reported experiencing a problem paying a medical bill, versus just 15.4% of those with stable housing.
While housing instability affects Coloradans from all walks of life, the CHAS suggests that those with lower incomes, people living in some rural communities, seniors, and people of color are particularly likely to experience instability.
Data suggests the two fastest-growing demographics in the El Paso County region are working-age cohorts between the ages of 20 to 34 and retirees aged 65+. Across the City, affordable housing continues to be a recurrent topic of public debate.
- The average rent for an apartment in Colorado Springs is $1,333, a 9% increase compared to the previous year. (as of June 2021)
- The inventory of homes and rentals remains historically low
- 1 in 3 households are cost-burdened in Colorado Springs
- Seniors make up 13% of the population (projected to be 25% by 2050)
- 6% of Seniors in Colorado Springs have an annual income of less than $10K and 22% less than $20K
- The average Social Security Income in COS is ~$16K annually
- The median income for a senior in COS is $43,402
Seniors want (and often need) housing that includes age-in-place design features, inviting floor spaces, and a connection with people and the outdoors. Additionally, seniors face unique barriers including: low-fixed incomes, accessibility barriers, ageism, transportation needs, and increased anxiety/vulnerability, requiring carefully crafted, integrated strategies.
Silver Key has long-term experience in providing vital senior housing services as demonstrated by board members and staff leadership of Senior Heritage Plaza, Inc. (Senior Heritage Plaza Apartments) since its founding in the 1980s. Senior Heritage Plaza offers a mixture of comfort and livability. This community can be found at 1410 N. Hancock Ave in Colorado Springs.
Silver Key Senior Services has been AWARDED 9% (Low Income Housing Tax Credits) to develop 50 units of affordable senior housing Integrated into the current campus.
Click here to read the full press article.
The refined project plan optimizes the original project plan by incorporating the delivery of Silver Key primary services at the facility, including:
- Community space large enough for gathering, activities, and meal sharing of food provided by Silver Key
- Closed-door meeting rooms for residents to receive Silver Key behavioral health and wellness services including Veteran support
- Small community kitchen space for Silver Key meal delivery and distribution
- Covered entrance with close to door drive-up vehicle access for residents to conveniently access Silver Key transportation services
- Safe and convenient vehicle and walkway connection to the Silver Key campus to receive services and to shop at the Silver Key food pantry and thrift store
- Small community garden for individual and group activities
- Opportunity to volunteer for Silver Key
- And much more!
The community can begin to help our efforts by creating awareness and support the project proactively throughout the community in all relevant communications and interactions. Check out the recent articles below on the next tab!
For the housing support tool kit, please click here.
Please share with Silver Key community feedback related to the project.
If you’d like to make a donation to support our housing services including our building project and/or housing navigation, simply note on your donation “for housing services.”
Share these articles below to help raise awareness about the housing crisis and help impact Seniors' well-being!
Caption idea for your social media post:
Silver Key is excited to announce that it will be proceeding with the development of an affordable senior living housing complex to be located at its 1625 S. Murray Blvd Campus. The Silver Key Board of Directors gave its unanimous support to the effort and signaled that this would be the necessary next step in tackling the housing crisis. https://www.silverkey.org/for-immediate-release-silver-key-senior-services-makes-commitment-to-develop-new-affordable-senior-housing-complex-as-an-addition-to-current-campus/
Gazette announcement on Silver Key housing
Caption idea for your social media post:
To make a dent in the increasing need for affordable senior housing, Silver Key Senior Services is moving ahead with plans to build a new apartment complex adjacent to its headquarters at 1605 S. Murray Blvd. in southeast Colorado Springs. https://gazette.com/news/silver-key-to-build-apartment-complex-in-southeast-colorado-springs-for-low-income-seniors/article_1b1c7b0a-d927-11eb-bfbc-07022870a39c.html
Caption idea for your social media post:
Silver Key has a huge project to share, and this recent project is one of only two responding specifically to the housing needs of low-income seniors. https://krdo.com/news/top-stories/2021/06/30/silver-key-plans-affordable-housing-project-for-low-income-seniors-in-colorado-springs/
More affordable housing for seniors coming to Colorado Springs
Caption idea for your social media post:
Seniors are hit hardest when it comes to rising rents, as they are on fixed incomes. As of June, the average monthly rent for an apartment in Colorado Springs is $1,333, according to Silver Key Senior Services.
https://www.koaa.com/news/covering-colorado/more-affordable-housing-for-seniors-coming-to-colorado-springs
Another Colorado Springs Senior Apartment Complex Sold and Rents Raised
Caption idea for your social media post:
Silver Key mentioned for helping seniors with affordable housing needs.
https://www.kktv.com/2021/09/24/another-colorado-springs-senior-apartment-complex-sold-rents-raised/
Partnership Solutions to Address Affordability Crisis
Caption idea for your social media post:
Silver Key featured in Senior Housing Properties publication showcasing our commitment to affordable housing for seniors.
http://www.signatureflip.com/crej/hp/2021-10-20eEdition.pub/15/#zoom=z
Senior housing in the colorado springs region is among the most complex social issue Silver Key is addressing. Safe, affordable, accessible housing for older adults is in severe short supply, compounding multiple housing issues specific to seniors for which Silver Key has a unique understanding and comprehensive approach to address.
Read More in Silver Key's Housing Program FIVE PILLARS.
For more information please email info@silverkey.org – reference housing in your message.