BLCP Year One– Outcomes of Conversing with the Community

1. BLCP Year One– Outcomes of Conversing with the Community Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur AARP Vermont

2. What is the Burlington Livable Community Project? A collaborative process between AARP Vermont, City of Burlington, “stakeholder” organizations and residents of Burlington, articulating a vision for increasing Burlington’s livability as its population ages.

3. Year One – Four Major Research Activities • Focus Groups • Citizen/Stakeholder Groups • Housing, Mobility, Community Engagement • Pedestrian Evaluation • Telephone Survey

4. Wisdom gleaned from citizen participants “I take the car to places I could walk because getting across the street [Shelburne Road] is so difficult.” “When you get old, you’re no longer who you were… nobody knows you except as an old person. The fact is, we have a treasure trove of experience and interesting things to share.” “There’s things Burlington has to offer if you have really great resources. You can find a terrific place to live. And I think if you are in a poverty situation, you can find some place to live. But that middle – when I sell my house to downsize, where am I going to go?”

5. BLCP Survey of Age 45+ Burlington Residents 37% Male 63% Female

6. BLCP Survey of Age 45+ Burlington Residents

7. Housing • 77% own; 23% rent • 1/3 of renters in senior housing; rest are in non-age restricted housing • 38% live alone; 52% with spouse or partner; 29% live with family; 3% friend

8. Housing • Residents living alone more likely to live downtown (71%) or in the Old North End (50%) • Among those living alone about ½ would consider homesharing – support for this declines with age • 90% agree with the statement: “What I’d really like to do is stay in my neighborhood [and home] for as long as possible.”

9. Housing • Residents in ONE and Downtown more worried about crime, conflict with neighbors and neighborhood changing in ways they don’t like • Items that make it difficult to stay in own home or community • Financial issues top the list such as affording property taxes, rent, and utilities • Significant # concerned about factors that could limit their independence such as not being able to drive and getting help with personal care and chores

10. Mobility • Majority of 45+ get out at least 5x/week • Residents 75+ get out much less frequently: compared to younger residents they are 2x as likely to get out only 2x per week or less • Lower income and lower education residents also get out less frequently

11. Mobility • 76% of residents 45+ driveas primary mode of transportation • 65% for those 75 and older drive as primary mode • College educated more likely to walk or drive. Those with less education more likely to get a ride, or take a taxi or bus • Residents 75+ more frequently miss out on opportunities because of lack of transportation – true for lower income and lesser education

12. Mobility • 30% use the bus occasionally; of these 40% report taking the bus within the past 2 months • Residents with income below $35K take the bus more frequently: 53% reported taking the bus at least weekly in past 2 months • Negatives about the bus: • Lack of weekend or evening service • Lack of adequate shelter or place to sit while waiting • Inconvenient schedules • #1 Reason for not using the bus – 52% report they drive or have other transportation

13. CommunityEngagement • About 60% of residents are part of some kind of group – same percentage volunteer. • Likelihood of being engaged in some kind of group increases with education and income. • Likelihood of volunteering decreases with age but increases with income and education.

14. CommunityEngagement • Those 75+ cite health or disability and lack of transportation as reasons they don’t volunteer. • Generally good awareness of community activities for older residents and high marks for convenient meeting places and well-run community centers, rec centers, etc. • Educational opportunities topped the list of activities people wanted in Burlington.

15. RecommendedActions HOUSING • INFRASTRUCTURE • Develop senior housing game plan with range of options across income levels, ensuring that new housing or redeveloped sites prioritize access to public transportation and elder services • Design housing to boomer preferences – multi-generational, smart design, convenient to services & activities • Develop programs for upgrading existing housing stock to better serve the needs of elders • Encourage creative thinking in meeting future housing needs – home sharing, cooperatives, continuing care communities and accessory apartments • Provide more dementia care facilities, assisted living residences and supportive housing options for low and middle income residents

16. RecommendedActions HOUSING • AGING IN PLACE SERVICES • Facilitate growth of support services; explore development of naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) with a hub that provides services to the neighborhood • Enhance communication of information and networking amongst agencies with targeted services for elders • Advocate at the state and national level for increased financial support of programs delivering services to elders in their homes • Evaluate, improve and expand Housing and Support Services (HASS) to other senior housing sites throughout the city

17. RecommendedActions MOBILITY • PEDESTRIAN • Prioritize pedestrian improvements – longer walk signals for crossing major streets, ample public benches along major routes, better lighting of bus stops, parking lots & parking garages • Expand & enforce pedestrian friendly ordinancesfor effective and safe shared use of sidewalks between pedestrians, bicyclists, skateboarders, and electric vehicles

18. RecommendedActions MOBILITY • PUBLIC TRANSIT & INNOVATION • Improve weekend and night bus service, expand service area, and increase service frequency • Work with community and state leaders to increase funding for public transportation • Explore partnerships with community non-profits, businesses, and institutions to get people to events and activities • Increase marketing of the benefits and convenience of using public transportation • Research and encourage the establishment of innovative programs such as Zip Cars, car donation and volunteer driver programs

19. RecommendedActions COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT • SENIOR PROGRAMMING • Build wide array of enrichment opportunities for senior population in collaboration with senior centers, colleges, and cultural and recreational institutions • Integrate consideration of limited mobility access issues and other needs of older adults in event and program planning • Develop capacity within city government with an “ombudsman” or council/commission to represent BLCP and senior issues.

20. RecommendedActions COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT • TAPPING EXPERTISE OF ELDERS • Create a city culture that recognizes and uses the rich experiences of its elder population through strong volunteer/mentoring programs • Work with the business community to develop innovative older worker employment policies • Encourage seniors to share the wisdom of the senior voice through active civic engagement on boards and committees throughout the city • Train and organize citizens to advocate for policy change at the state and local level.

21. BLCP Stakeholders • AARP Vermont • Burlington CEDO • Burlington City Arts • Burlington Housing Authority • Burlington Parks & Recreation • Burlington Police Department • Burlington Public Works • Cathedral Square Corporation • CCTA • Champlain Senior Center • Champlain Valley Agency on Aging • Champlain Long Term Care Coalition • Chittenden County Metropolitan Planning Organization • Community of Vermont Elders (COVE) • Converse Home • Ethan Allen Residence • FAHC Community Health Improvement • FAHC Elder Care • Fletcher Free Library • Greater Burlington YMCA • Heineberg Senior Center • HomeShare Vermont • Snelling Center for Government • United Way Foster Grandparents & RSVP • UVM – Department of Continuing Education • UVM Transportation Center • Vermont Interfaith Action • Vermont LGBTQ Elders Project • Vermont Refugee Resettlement Project • Visiting Nurse Association

22. To Get Involved in the BLCP CONTACT: Jennifer Wallace-Brodeur AARP VT 112 State St. 5th Floor Montpelier, VT 05602 802 224-1113 jwbrodeur@aarp.org www.aarp.org/vt

23. Growing Older in a Livable City A Report on Focused Conversations with Burlington Citizens (Age 50+) http://www.aarp.org/research/housing- mobility/indliving/vt_communities_2007.html