A few years ago, the agency had as its Annual Event theme, “Honoring Our Elders”. This year’s Annual Event theme “Putting People First” reminds me again of the value that our seniors/elders bring to our community. As seniors and sometime grandparents, elders bring a certain wisdom and patience that is not found in any other generation.  We practice putting them first when they are seen as an integral part of the community. They are an untapped resource that can bring a kind of stability to our community that we have not seen for a while.  In my own lifetime, my grandparents were a part of our family structure. At some point, we decided it would be best to separate/isolate them from the rest of the community, sort of like putting a horse out to pasture when we think they have had their best years.  But what could we possibly gain? 

The Renaissance Collaborative, Inc. (TRC) and Housing Opportunity and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) have joined forces to develop an intentional intergenerational housing model.  This intentional model has gains support as we have shared the vision thoroughout the Chicago area. We will develop 74 units of various sizes to accommodate various needs in the community. It will bring together senior grandparents who are primary caregivers of dependent youth, senior orphans, independent seniors, six 18-to-24 year old resident assistants (who will provide services and support to these seniors as part of their salaries) with some grandfamilies where the head of household might be 55 years of age but nevertheless they are the primary caregivers of dependent youth.   

It is our hope that creating this intentional model will lead others in the field to see how valuable our seniors can be. I think we will find we have everything we need to both provide and support community. 

Sincerely,

 Patricia Abrams
Executive Director, The Renaissance Collaborative, Inc.