SENIOR OUTRAGE COALITION PROTEST DE-FUNDING OF EMERGENCY
SERVICES FOR HOMELESS ELDERLY

Representatives of NYC Union Retirees including NYCARA, 1199/SEIU, community organizations such as the Gray Panthers, Older Women’s League,  NY Statewide Senior Action Council, Hispanic Senior Action Council, and more, marched in the along the Avenue of the Americas, between 14th Street and 23rd Street protesting the elimination of emergency funds for homeless senior citizens in NYC. 

Peter’s Place, the only drop-in center for the homeless elderly in NYC, where homeless seniors are able to get services that address their special needs has been slated to close as of June 30, 2009. 

“Up to now, neither the NYC Department for Homeless Services, the providers, nor any other elected official has been able to come up with a satisfactory arrangement that will guarantee the type of services that Peter Place currently provides for its clients,” María Alvarez, one of the organizers for the Senior Outrage Coalition, told the crowd assembled in front of Peter’s Place.  “As the cost of living rises, and seniors have to pay more for their medications, food, and rent, which they do on a fixed income, the problem of homeless seniors will get worse in the years to come.  According to Mayor Bloomberg’s Age-Friendly City report, fully 30 per cent of the seniors in NYC are poor.  Something must be done, and we will continue to come here and fight until this is resolved.”

“Homeless seniors deserve a bail-out more than the banks!” exclaimed Joan Davis, member of the Gray Panthers.  To which the crowd broke out into chants of, “Save Peter’s Place”.

The next action to save Peter’s Place will take place on Thursday, June11, 2009.  The action will take form of a rally in front of Peter’s Place at 123 West 23rd Street in Manhattan between 4:00 – 6:00 PM.

Peter’s Place is run by the Partnership for the Homeless with funds from the NYC Department for Homeless Services.  In de-funding this program, the NYC Department for Homeless Services has eliminated the services that address the special needs of homeless senior citizens.