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fee or a purchase fee upon moving to the retirement community and move in with a <br />life-time contract. A range of services are provided including meals, house-keeping <br />services, and maintenance services. Although the residents in the community are in <br />their retirement years, there are lots of residents that take on second careers. <br />The organization provides a safety net of assisted living and skilled nursing. <br />Jack Chestnut tied in information presented by other panelists to the County's <br />Master Aging Plan (M.A.P.). Mr. Chestnut said that many older adults do not want to <br />move from their homes at all. He discussed a 55+ community in Mebane, which is <br />intergenerational. They would like to make it easier for people to stay in their own <br />homes, providing transportation and amenities near home. Mr. Chestnut says that <br />they do not have a 55+ community in Northern Orange County but they are building <br />a new senior center in Hillsborough. <br />Panelist Lane Sarver brought up that a lot of people who can't afford moving to <br />assisted living or 55+ communities. He discussed the need to help folks afford <br />independent apartments and the need to build low-income housing and to provide <br />assistance for rent and bills. Mr. Sarver says that all programs have long waiting <br />lists because the need is great. He would like to bring such programs to Northern <br />Orange County. <br />Tara Fikes of Orange County Housing and Community Development discussed <br />Section 8 Housing and a rent voucher program using federal and state funding. She <br />also discussed a local program, the Urgent Repair Program, which provides <br />assistance for home repair. This program is for the elderly and the disabled and is <br />for people who live in owner-occupied homes. <br />After the panelists introduced themselves, Ms. Wassel opened the discussion up to <br />questions from the other attendees of the discussion group. The first question <br />was for Ms. Fikes to clarify some things about the program she was announcing. <br />She said that money for ramps and such often comes from congregations and is <br />only for privately owned property. <br />Another discussion participant inquired about the financial level necessary to be <br />eligible for home repairs. Ms. Fikes responded that the program provides services <br />for individuals with an income of $18,750 or below (approximately 50% of the <br />median income and less). Another discussion participant asked whether the home <br />repair program used volunteer laborers for home repairs. Ms. Fikes replied that <br />Page 8 of 18 <br />