Bob Zdenek, Director, National Neighbors Silver Expanding Economic Security in New York and Beyond October 10, 2012.

Bob Zdenek, Director, National Neighbors Silver

Expanding Economic Security in New York and Beyond

October 10, 2012

National Neighbors Silver

National Community Reinvestment Coalition

Bridging networks and building on expertise

A multi-pronged approach

Organizing, Advocacy and Direct Service

Building a grassroots movement

Successes, challenges and lessons

• The number of older adults will grow from 35 million in 2000 to 72 million in 2030.

• 1 in 3 older adults relies on Social Security for more than 90% of income.

• Average is $12,526 for women, and $15,775 for men.

Why Economic Security is Important

Why Economic Security is Important?

Older adults need $6.6 trillion to maintain their standard of living. This is a huge gap.

The impact of the great recession on older adults is still not over—lost employment income and declining housing values for homeowners.

Increased foreclosure rate for older adults from 2008 http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/i9_mortgage.pdf).

National Neighbors Silver Goals

1. Organize and empower economically vulnerable seniors.

2. Bridge distinct networks in housing, asset building, banking, and aging.

3. Train organizations on fair housing and fair lending for older adults.

4. Reach low-income seniors with housing counseling support; and

5. Promote responsible banking and adequate housing for seniors.

Core strategies for NNS Network

Organizing- Creating a network of 15 local campaigns, including one-full-time organizer and 5 community Ambassadors to reach thousands of individuals.

Advocacy- Development of both a national platform and state strategy focusing on economic security and “age-friendly banking”.

Core NNS Network Strategies

Financial education- Tailor financial education to older adult issues and needs. Launch a training of trainers program.

Important issues- These may vary in different parts of the country but common themes are transportation, managing health care costs, preserving housing equity, social security becoming automated.

Housing counseling- Connecting to NCRC HCN network for housing counseling with a special emphasis on foreclosure prevention.

Effective Practices from Other Sites

Causa Justa, Oakland, CA Auction actions to disrupt the sale of foreclosed

homes. Large scale action at Wells Fargo shareholder

meetings. ESOP- Cleveland, Ohio

Community action to address vacant properties Transportation advocacy and plans for older adults

Western Maine Community Action Agency Retired banker meeting with banks to improve

services to older adults

Effective Practices Cont:

Faith Action for Community Equity- Hawaii Mayoral forum on economic security for older

adults Equity Summit panel on seniors and economic

security

Opportunities

1. Economic Security brings an exciting array of networks and sectors to work on issues that impact many.

2. Economic security can help mobilize older adults around economic justice issues.

3. Understanding basic financial literacy concepts will help older adults be more adaptable to changing economic circumstances.

Opportunities Cont:

4. Economic security builds on the assets, strengths, and experiences of older adults.

5. Innovative new approaches like age-friendly banking (others).

Resources

Age-Friendly Banking Toolkit Financial Planning and Retirement Tools Strategic Planning Toolkit Multiple Recorded Webinars Video and Storytelling Resources Policy and Program Factsheets

Information

National Neighbors Silver c/o National Community Reinvestment Coalition

727 15th Street, N.W., 4TH Floor

Washington D.C. 20005

Bob Zdenek, Director NNS

[email protected]

Concluding Thoughts

Economic security is a very important inter-generational issue given the importance of older adults in lives of others.

The Iroquois Nation of New York developed the concept of Seven Generations. Each of us are influenced by the three preceding generations, and the three generations that will follow us.