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senior advocates identifying and quantifying what this means for the county and the <br /> services the county provides. <br /> Over the last year, a group of 28, some of whom are behind me, have gained first hand <br /> knowledge and direct experience with the special difficulties and opportunities this <br /> demographic presents: <br /> 30% of people over 65 fall every year. <br /> 25% of this population lives in poverty <br /> As we age our metabolism slows; our taste buds dull; and we lose interest in <br /> shopping for groceries, cooking and even eating; our stamina, balance and strength <br /> diminish; our vision and hearing lose the acuity we once had. The reality is that we no <br /> longer experience large numbers of accidental deaths, we are outliving disease; to be <br /> replaced by a very gradual decline in function; during which time we will see an ever <br /> increasing demand in public services. <br /> EMS will become a major provider of in home support. Public transit will <br /> become an on demand, customized, through the door service. Senior Centers will <br /> need to be reconfigured to accommodate increasing numbers of participants and <br /> satellite locations are already needed for the north-east, north-west, and south-west <br /> portions of the County. The stress this increase places on an already challenged <br /> system from DSS to the Department on Aging, the Sheriff's Office & EMS is already felt <br /> and will require novel solutions. <br /> Again, the message we have for you today is that the demands of the senior <br /> population are clearly growing faster than that of the schools, and if we ignore this <br /> emerging reality and fail to make the capital investments now, we will be placing <br /> everyone in the county at risk. <br /> We urge you to reconsider how the bond referendum is earmarked. <br /> Beverly Blythe provided a hand out, incorporated here by reference. <br /> Ree Ree Wei, high school student, said she supported adding affordable <br /> housing on the bond referendum. She said she has personally benefitted from <br /> affordable housing. She said if it had not been available, her family would not have a <br /> home that affords her a safe place to live, and a quiet place to study. She said good <br /> schools must be combined with good housing for children to achieve success. <br /> Brian Curran, former Chapel Hill Police Chief, asked the Board to include an <br /> affordable housing component in the bond referendum. He said the lion's share should <br /> go to the schools, but to consider a portion for affordable housing. He said safe housing <br /> and a good education go hand in hand. He said bond funds have been used for <br /> affordable housing in the past, building close to 100 homes. He said federal funding for <br /> affordable housing is shrinking rapidly. He thanked the Board for their ongoing <br /> commitment to affordable housing. <br /> Alex Castro, Advisory Board on Aging, said school needs are clear, but the <br /> County has other needs as well. He asked for support for seniors, affordable housing, <br /> and parks in the bond referendum. <br /> Katherine Leith said she is here in support for seniors, and affordable housing in <br /> the proposed bond referendum. <br /> Jen Ferris said she is President of the Board of Directors for the Community <br /> Home Trust, and she also lives in affordable housing. She is here to ask the Board to <br /> support affordable housing in the bond, specifically $10 million. <br /> Kelli Thomas said she is a member of the Board of Directors of Habitat for <br /> Humanity, and she asked for the Board's support for affordable housing in the bond. <br /> She is a former teacher and fully supports funds going to the public schools, but added <br />