Generation to Generation, Allison Walker

Seniors in Osceola County struggling to find affordable housing are now being turned away from the waiting list, according to the Osceola County Council on Aging.
   
As News 13's Allison Walker explains, the problem will only get worse if the number of senior housing complexes stays at five.

Miguel Ortiz lived with five to seven people under one roof in Kissimmee --  his daughter's.

But this senior and his wife wanted their own space, so Ortiz said the only option he could consider was moving into Osceola County's newest  Housing and Urban Development building for seniors.

HUD is a government agency that helps to provide affordable housing for seniors.

"We get calls every day from probably 10 to 20 people looking for affordable housing.  now have 34 people waiting and have closed the wait list because people are not gonna move once they move in," said Jill Wood, of the Council on Aging.

The Council on Aging housing director said a 6th senior housing complex is critical.

She said she is in the talking stages of building a new one.

"We are especially interested in the Buena Lakes Vista area and the Poinciana area because there is not housing in those two areas," Wood said.

But no deal has been made yet.

If it does happen, Wood said the earliest seniors could move in would be at least three years later.

The newest HUD building has 50 units and mostly single seniors live there.

Officials have not confirmed whether they're planning on building a bigger one the next time around.

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