Group homes and assisted living facilities are appropriate for a relatively small proportion of the elderly population. Future housing programs should concentrate on innovative methods for assisting the elderly population by supporting them in an independent living environment. Much of this effort can be performed by the City in conjunction with Hillsborough County and possibly, a non-profit organization charged with assisting the housing needs of the elderly. The City’s role will involve education, regulatory reform and technical assistance to the elderly portion of the population. The following supportive programs have the potential to increase the elderly’s quality of life by reducing institutionalization.
A. Accessory Dwellings
Accessory dwellings are completely independent living units installed in the surplus space of a single-family residence.
This results in two independent households and is of particular usefulness to an aging population or a population experiencing an affordable housing shortage. This is a program which has been supported by the American Association of Retired Persons. The primary barrier to the implementation of this type of program has been regulatory,
particularly the local zoning ordinance. Currently Plant City allows for accessory dwelling consideration only within the Residential–1 zoning category. Modifications would have to be made to the Plant City Zoning Ordinance to permit accessory dwellings in other zoning categories. These accessory uses could be permitted in some single-family and most multi-family districts, provided the overall unit contains a minimum amount of living space.
The general picture of a successful accessory apartment program results in the maintenance of an independent living environment for the elderly, while providing companionship for them and offers security and assistance to both households.
B. ECHO Housing/”Granny Flats”/”Elder Cottages”
These three programs are often used interchangeably and can be considered as the same program despite some minor differences. ECHO housing refers to small, temporary living units placed in the yards of single-family homes so that adult children can care for their aging parents. Older people can also install them in their yards and rent their homes in return for income and services. The ECHO unit is then removed when it is no longer needed.
“Granny Flats” or “Elder Cottages” are basically the same as ECHO housing except that these products are not temporary in nature, but designed for long term living. These units, which range in living space from 400 to 600 square feet, are usually placed in the side or rear yard area of a single family lot.
Again, local zoning regulations present many of the hurdles to be overcome for successful implementation of these programs. Traditionally, single-family zoning generally prohibits this type of accessory use. Modifications should be periodically considered to the City’s Zoning Ordinance that would allow additions to the yard requirements section and accessory uses in single-family districts. “Granny Flats” and “ Elder Cottages” could be placed under the special exception provisions within the single-family zoning district, and contain specific language related to minimum living space and floor area, minimum lot sizes and minimum separation space between the primary residential structure, the “Granny Flat” or “Elder Cottages” and any other accessory building.
C. Tenant-Homeowner Match Program
A closely related assistance program similar to shared housing is the tenant- homeowner match program. The principle difference is that in this program, the services to be rendered by the tenant to the elderly homeowner is more formalized than in shared housing. This is generally stated in an official contract between the two parties. Another difference is that in shared housing, the two parties are usually elderly individuals, while the tenant-homeowner match program normally involves either a young single person or a young couple and an elderly homeowner. The tenant, in return for paying a minimum rent to the homeowner, provides such services as yard work, home maintenance, errand running, housecleaning and sometimes cooking, free of charge.
The organizational framework for this program would include the same options discussed earlier for the shared program. Similar regulatory changes to the Zoning Ordinance would also have to be made.
D. Volunteer-Credit Program
This program is intended to help the elderly homeowner maintain his home and independent living environment. The major difference in this program and all the programs discussed previously is that no joint living or additional housing on site would be involved.
Page 56 Comprehensive Plan for the City of Plant City, Housing
This program involves volunteers in the local community to provide yard work, home maintenance and repair, and housecleaning in response to the needs of the elderly homeowners. Volunteers, in return, receive credits from businesses, fraternal clubs, schools and colleges entitling them to discounts in stores, special services, reduced club membership fees and lower tuition costs. Credits awarded are based on the amount and difficulty of the work performed by the volunteers. Credits are then presented to participating local businesses and institutions in return for discounts.
This program could be organized and administered as a joint venture between the City, County or housing services corporation and local Chamber of Commerce. No regulatory changes would be needed to implement this program.