National
Home Repairs Loom Large for Low-Income Seniors
Curline Wilmoth (center) received help from Rebuilding Together Boston to make the bathroom in her Boston home more wheelchair-accessible. She is flanked by daughters Yvonne, left, and Doreen. (Sandra Larson/Bay State Banner)
By Sandra Larson
Special to the NNPA from Bay State Banner via New American Media
BOSTON — In Boston’s largely Caribbean and African American Mattapan neighborhood, the family of Curline Wilmoth, 67, has been struggling to care for her after she suffered a debilitating stroke in 2010 and had to leave her job as a hospital housekeeper.
Then, as happens too often when an elder returns from a hospital, Wilmoth and her family found she couldn’t safely move in or around her home. For instance, her wheelchair wouldn’t fit through the bathroom door. And family members had to carry the chair down and up the front steps each time Wilmoth went to the doctor or to senior center programs.
Increasing–and More Diverse–Elders
The rapidly aging United States population, especially in metropolitan areas like Boston, means that an increasingly nonwhite population of older adults with lower lifetime earnings and scant assets will grow.
In particular, ethnic elders, who tend to fall on the lower side of racial wealth and income gaps, are finding themselves unable to cover unanticipated expenses, such as home repairs or modifications, necessary for their safety. Retired homeowners on a fixed income needing a new roof or major plumbing repair, for instance, can face the dilemma that advocates in aging call being “house rich, but cash poor.”
“We know the need continues to grow,” said Sandra Henriquez, CEO of Rebuilding Together, based in Washington, D.C. But home-repair assistance is out there, if seniors know where to look, she said.
“A lot of people who have spent good years helping in their communities now need some help themselves. We take seriously that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers,” said Henriquez, former assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the Obama administration.
Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit, has local affiliates that mobilize contractors and volunteers to perform free repairs and accessibility modifications. The organization assists about 10,000 low-income homeowners annually.
Among them is Wilmoth. Her family applied to Rebuilding Together Boston (RTB). During the organization’s National Rebuilding Days in April, a crew of local contractors and volunteers converged on the Wilmoth house to construct a wheelchair ramp, widen the bathroom door and install a more accessible toilet.
“God bless them, all of them,” said Wilmoth’s daughter Yvonne, 39. “Life will be much easier.”
Hard to Make Ends Meet
The older population nationally and locally is becoming more diverse. A recent report on aging in Boston by the University of Massachusetts, Boston, Gerontology Institute and the Boston Elderly Commission shows that from 2000 to 2010, the number of White people 60 and older dropped 3 percent in Boston, while numbers for all nonwhite groups increased. These trends are expected to continue.
Boston’s senior population is projected to grow by 22,500 households between 2010 and 2030, according to data in the city’s recently released housing plan. A majority of the new senior households will have annual incomes under $50,000, according to the report.
The Gerontology Institute applied its Elder Economic Security Index to measure how much income people 65-plus need to meet their basic living expenses for essentials like food, health care, transportation and housing.
The Institute estimates that in Suffolk County, primarily encompassing Boston, a home-owning couple without a mortgage typically needs $35,256 per year — far more than double the official federal poverty level— just to get by. A single person with a mortgage may need more than another $2,000 to cover basic costs, according to the Index.
Programs for Home Repair
Henriquez, who also previously ran the Boston Housing Authority, emphasized that home repair assistance — by both government and nonprofit sectors — offers a means of tackling a problem that can push seniors into nursing homes or even homelessness.
The average homeowner Rebuilding Together serves nationally has lived in the home for 23 years, but most have spent less than $1,000 on repairs and improvements in the prior two years — far less than a typical homeowner.
Clara Garcia is director of senior services at United South End Settlements (USES) in Boston, one of the provider agencies for the city’s Home Center, which funds home repairs for Boston’s low-income elders. Garcia sees firsthand insufficient home maintenance that can lead to serious safety, health and accessibility problems.
“We see homes that are very dilapidated,” she said. “The seniors as they’ve aged have not really kept up with the upkeep. They feel that owning the house is the important thing, and do not realize how it’s deteriorating.”
Using federal Community Development Block Grant funds, the city has provided repair aid for 520 senior homeowners in the past year; of these, USES handled 53 in Boston’s Roxbury community and other neighborhoods. Provider agencies perform minor repairs such as fixing doorbells and installing bathroom grab bars.
For larger jobs such as roof or heating system replacement, they help homeowners apply for the Home Center’s major repair funds. Low-income seniors who are current with their water and property tax bills may be able to receive a no-interest loan or a grant.
Paperwork and Waiting Game
Joanne C., 70, has been struggling for the past several years to keep up with home repairs on a meager income, while caring for her ill husband. As an African American who owns her home in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood free and clear, Joanne bucks the wealth gap trend in one sense, but she’s not alone in her need to pinch pennies and seek help.
At her small dining room table in April, Joanne, who did not wish to include her last name, motioned to a pile of documents assembled for repair assistance applications.
Proving her eligibility for help has not been difficult, she said. Social Security and a small pension from her 30-plus years as a hospital diet educator bring in about $30,000 annually.
But her quarterly property tax bill went up by $100 this year. And after a harsh winter, with a faulty heat system, she is still paying off two $800 heat bills: one for the upper floors and another for a first-floor former rental unit that now serves as an accessible living space for her husband.
Recently, Joanne applied for the second time to Rebuilding Together Boston. Her first application a couple of years ago was rejected. To her surprise, they didn’t deem her repair needs big enough to send a crew of volunteers.
“If I’d known they wanted to be here all day, I would have showed them more!” she said ruefully. “I didn’t know! So I was turned down.”
Now, as she awaited word from RTB, she was also looking forward to a scheduled appointment with Clara Garcia to see if USES Senior Services could help.
Relief in Sight
One senior already helped by USES is Patricia Hecker, 74, who received assistance for roof repair, storm windows and a new back door on her Roxbury home.
Hecker bought her house 15 years ago, making the down payment with money she saved from selling crafts, she said. Her mortgage payment takes up much of her income, a pension from 22 years of work as a driver for the city’s Senior Shuttle service. She is happy with her home on a quiet street with a small garden – but admits it’s a struggle to make ends meet.
“When you’re on a fixed income and you have no money to fix things, you just do what you have to do – I was putting bedspreads across the windows, shutting doors, wearing tons of sweaters and putting blankets on my lap. It was awful, for a while,” she said, sitting down at USES before going to senior lunch and an art class. “Now it’s a lot warmer. It’s really helped.”
By mid-May, Joanne, too, sounded upbeat. Garcia had visited, and USES will take care of some of Joanne’s small repair tasks and help her apply for major repair funds for the heating system.
“I didn’t want to get a loan, but if in 10 years I can still be comfortable in my home, I’ll be happy,” she said. “I’m just so vulnerable at this point, and so tired. I have to get that heat fixed before next winter.”
She added, “It looks like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
This article is adapted from a story Sandra Larson wrote for Boston’s Bay State Banner through a Journalists in Aging Fellowship, a collaboration of New America Media and the Gerontological Society of America, with support from AARP. This story is part of a series on housing challenges for low-income seniors in Boston.
Community
Asm. Corey Jackson Announces Launch of 24-Hour Childcare in His District
Assemblymember Corey Jackson has secured $2 million in state funding for a proposed childcare special district in Moreno Valley and Perris. This funding aims to establish a system providing 24-hour, seven-day-a-week childcare, which would be California’s first special district focused solely on childcare. The initiative seeks to address the area’s designation as a “childcare desert” and high costs for working families. The funding will cover startup, planning, and formation costs for the district. Read more about the specifics of this groundbreaking initiative.
Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) has secured $2 million in state funding to launch a proposed childcare special district serving families in Moreno Valley and Perris, paving the way for a system designed to provide childcare 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Moreno Valley-Perris Childcare Special District would be the first special district in California focused specifically on childcare, according to Jackson’s office. The state funding will cover startup, planning, and formation costs and help the district meet requirements set by the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO.
The proposed district would coordinate a mixed-delivery childcare system that could include home-based and center-based care. The goal is to provide universal childcare for families who work overnight, early morning, or other nontraditional shifts.
Jackson’s office says Moreno Valley is a certified “childcare desert,” with licensed childcare spaces available for only 15% of children with working parents. Infant care in Moreno Valley averages $2,776 a month, or about 35.7% of median household income. In Perris, licensed infant care can cost more than 60% of an individual worker’s gross median earnings, according to the assemblymember’s office.
“Securing this $2 million in startup funding is a monumental victory for the working-class families of Moreno Valley and Perris who have been trapped in a childcare desert for far too long,” Jackson said.
The proposal follows Jackson’s unsuccessful effort to establish the district through Assembly Bill 2083. The legislation would have created the district as a dependent special district covering Moreno Valley, Perris and their spheres of influence, with Riverside LAFCO responsible for reviewing its formation and boundaries.
The new funding allows the district’s formation to move forward without requiring mandatory contributions from local school districts and other stakeholders, according to Jackson’s office. His spokesperson, Daniel Peeden, said Jackson hopes the district can be operating by 2028.
The proposal has faced questions from some local officials. Moreno Valley City Councilmember Ed Delgado, who is running against Jackson for the 60th Assembly District seat, said he supports affordable childcare but questioned how the proposed district would operate and how much it would ultimately cost.
“Basically, he didn’t have a plan. We didn’t see a plan,” Delgado said, adding that officials had questions about operating costs, insurance and eligibility.
“It’s going to take a lot more than $2 million to create a special district to provide affordable childcare,” Delgado said.
Delgado has suggested working with existing childcare centers to subsidize costs for local families rather than creating a new agency.
Jackson’s office says the program will lower barriers to “workforce participation” and reduce “affordability anxiety” for young families. This landmark District is poised to trigger a virtuous cycle of economic upward mobility and long-term regional prosperity in the 60th Assembly District, his office added.
Black History
IN MEMORIAM: The Rev. Leon “Sonny” Clark, Longtime Orange County Pastor and Community Leader, Dies at 72
Rev. Leon William “Sonny” Clark, the longtime pastor of New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana and a prominent faith and community leader in Orange County, passed away on September 9 at the age of 72. Born in Bennettsville, South Carolina, Clark was a U.S. Navy veteran who dedicated his life to service. He served various Southern California churches before leading New Spirit Baptist Church for over 22 years, extending his work into counseling, mentoring, and civic engagement, and supporting the African American community. To learn more about his life and contributions, read more.
Rev. Leon William “Sonny” Clark, longtime pastor of New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana and a respected faith and community leader in Orange County, died Sept. 9. He was 72.
Born Oct. 2, 1953, in Bennettsville, South Carolina, Clark was a U.S. Navy veteran who later built a life of service centered on family, faith, ministry, and community.
Clark began his formal ministry at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena in 1978. After acknowledging his call to ministry in 1980, he preached his first sermon and went on to serve churches throughout Southern California, including Second Baptist Church in Riverside, Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Rubidoux, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Pomona, and Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda.
In November 2003, Clark was called to lead New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana, where he served as pastor for more than 22 years. His work extended beyond the pulpit through counseling, mentoring, civic engagement, and efforts to strengthen Orange County’s African American community.
Clark served on the Orange County Heritage Council and supported efforts to preserve and celebrate African American history and culture. He helped organize the Orange County Black History Parade and Unity Festival, served on the Interfaith Committee and the Orange County Transit Authority, and served as president of the Orange County Ministers Conference.
In 2024, the City of Santa Ana recognized Clark for his contributions to the community. He also received the Orange County Southern Baptist Association Hall of Faith Award and was previously honored as Pastor of the Year by the Orange County Heritage Council.
Clark is survived by his wife, Andrea Joyles Clark; six children, Shawn Williams, Le Ondra Clark Harvey, Kyla Coward, Joshua Clark, Marissa Clark and Ashley Clark; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; siblings; extended family; and the New Spirit Baptist Church congregation.
A wake will be held Thursday, Oct. 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. at New Spirit Baptist Church, 701 S. Sullivan St. in Santa Ana, with a remembrance service from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, Oct. 2, at Friendship Baptist Church, 17145 Bastanchury Road in Yorba Linda. Viewing begins at noon, followed by the service at 1 p.m.
Burial will take place Monday, Oct. 5, at 10:15 a.m. at Riverside National Cemetery.
Clark often shared a guiding principle that shaped his ministry: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
Economy
Poll: Becerra Widens His Lead Over Hilton; Californians Split on Wealth Tax
A new Public Policy Institute of California poll shows Democrat Xavier Becerra leads Republican Steve Hilton by 22 points in California’s governor’s race, with 60% of likely voters supporting Becerra compared to 38% for Hilton. The September survey also reveals Californians are closely divided on a proposed one-time tax on billionaires, with 52% of likely voters in favor of Proposition 40. Affordability issues are a major factor for voters. Read more to learn about the poll’s additional findings on voter sentiment.
Democrat Xavier Becerra holds a 22-point lead over Republican Steve Hilton in California’s governor’s race, while voters remain closely divided over a proposed one-time tax on billionaires, according to a new Public Policy Institute of California poll.
The September PPIC survey found that 60% of likely voters support Becerra, compared with 38% for Hilton. His lead is actually narrower than it was in July, when he led Hilton 61% to 36%.
Becerra leads among independent voters, with 57% supporting him compared with 38% for Hilton. Party loyalty remains strong, with 93% of Democratic likely voters backing Becerra and 92% of Republicans supporting Hilton.
Hilton leads in the Central Valley, where 52% of likely voters support him compared with 46% for Becerra.
Affordability remains a major factor: 65% of likely voters say candidates’ plans to address cost-of-living issues are “very important” to their vote.
“Affordability continues to be top of mind for Californians when considering their choice for governor,” said Mark Baldassare, PPIC Statewide Survey director and Miller Chair in Public Policy.
The poll also found a narrow split over Proposition 40, a proposed one-time tax of up to 5% on taxpayers with assets exceeding $1 billion. Fifty-two percent of likely voters said they would vote yes, while 46% said they would vote no.
Support for the wealth tax varies sharply by party. Seventy-two percent of Democrats favor Proposition 40, compared with 46% of independents and 21% of Republicans.
Two competing measures also drew majority support. Fifty-one percent back Proposition 41, while 54% support Proposition 42, both of which could affect the wealth-tax proposal.
The findings come as Californians express broader frustration with the state’s political direction. Seventy-one percent of likely voters expect bad economic times in California over the next year.
“Californians are clearly grumpy and aren’t enamored with any particular political party or movement,” Baldassare said.
The survey interviewed 1,745 California adults, including 1,103 likely voters, from Sept. 4-10. The margin of error for likely voters is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
Asm. Corey Jackson Announces Launch of 24-Hour Childcare in His District
IN MEMORIAM: The Rev. Leon “Sonny” Clark, Longtime Orange County Pastor and Community Leader, Dies at 72
Poll: Becerra Widens His Lead Over Hilton; Californians Split on Wealth Tax
From Historic Memories to New Possibilities: Oakland Celebrates Coliseum 60
County Office of Education Says OUSD Finances Are Getting Healthier, Materially Stronger
LIVE FREE Sunday Dinner Brings Faith, Fellowship and Civic Conversation to Oakland
Remembering Chauncey Bailey as Student Journalists Face Threats to Truth-Telling
BLACspace Cooperative Invites Bay Area to Experience Oakland’s Black Cultural Ecosystem Through a BLAC Map Tour + Party
In Wake of Death on Doorstep, Williams Chapel Baptist Church Calls for Better Care, Funding for Unhoused
Oakland Centenarian Nuna McKee Honored!
Caribbean Nations Produce Action Plan Calling for UK Reparations Over Slavery
Oakland Post: Week of September 23 – 29, 2026
Doulas Are Helping Black California Moms Navigate Pregnancy–Even as High Mortality Rates Persist
Newsom Signs Addictive Social Media Law to Protect Kids
On Your November Ballot: Prop 38 Would Allocate $8.4 Billion to Immunology and Immunotherapy Funding
Standoff for Justice: Our Homes Are Worth Fighting For
Oakland Post: Week of August 26 – September 1, 2026
Frontier Airlines’ Return to Oakland Airport Brings Flights, Jobs and Opportunity
Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Blasts California New Tire Rules; Newsom Hits Back
Chef Sharon Lee Blends Culinary Excellence, Education and Empowerment
Jackie Wright Champions Bay Area Stories, Filmmakers and Cultural Institutions
Big City Mayors Ask for “Yes” Vote on Housing Bond Measure; Conservatives Say “No”
Oakland Coliseum Project Opens Door for Small Businesses to Build Bigger
Gov. Newsom’s Latest Appointees Include Sacramento Advocate for Formerly Incarcerated Students; State’s New Tech Chief
Misnamed ‘Parent’ PAC Seeks to Influence Oakland School Board Elections
Longtime BWOPA Member Brendalyn Goodall Appointed to California Workforce Development Board
Gov. Newsom Signs Law Shielding Immigration Aid Workers From Doxing Threats
Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber Urges Californians to Vote Early as Voter ID Battle Intensifies
From Palestine to Oakland: Seeds for Liberation Examines Shared Struggles for Freedom
IN MEMORIAM: Dolly Parton Dead at 80 — How She Built a Legacy of Love and Earned Her Place in Black Culture
The Conversation With Al McFarlane 6/23/26
Media Monday 6/22/26
LIVE! ASK ALMA! — TUES. 6.23.26 7PM EST
Car Buying Secrets: 4 Hidden Checks Before You Sign!
Is This 550 HP Charger Worth YOUR Money? AutoNetwork Review
Celebrating Juneteenth – Frederick Douglass on education and resistance
LIVE! — ASK ALMA! — TUES. 6.19.26 7PM EST
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Parking, Safety, and 360 View #shorts
2025 Ioniq 5 New Wiper & Powerful Performance! #shorts
Electric SUV Range: Is 259 Miles Enough? #shorts
EV Charging: How Fast Can You Charge an Electric Vehicle? #shorts
Biometric Cooling… Messaging Seats…Come on! 2025 Infiniti QX80 Autograph 4WD
Charged Up: Witness the Magic of a Fully Electric Car! #shorts
Range Rover Sport PHEV Included…: See What’s Inside This Luxury SUV! #shorts
Invisible Hood View: Perfect Parking with X-Ray Vision! #shorts
-
Community2 weeks agoMisnamed ‘Parent’ PAC Seeks to Influence Oakland School Board Elections
-
Activism3 weeks agoOakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026
-
Community2 weeks agoRichmond Tiny House Village Farm & Garden Set to Open Gates on Sept. 26
-
Black History2 weeks agoLatest Massacre in Haiti Reveals Cruelty U.S. Deportations
-
Black History2 weeks agoOPINION: Nolan Wells’ Death One of Several Signifying Racial Terror Lives on in U.S. South
-
Activism2 weeks agoOakland Post: Week of September 9 – 15, 2026
-
Community2 weeks agoDemocratic Clubs Interview Candidates for Oakland School Board
-
Featured2 weeks ago‘Ready to See These Bills Become Law’: Sen. Weber’s Package of 15 Bills Advance to Gov. Newsom’s Desk
National
Home Repairs Loom Large for Low-Income Seniors
Curline Wilmoth (center) received help from Rebuilding Together Boston to make the bathroom in her Boston home more wheelchair-accessible. She is flanked by daughters Yvonne, left, and Doreen. (Sandra Larson/Bay State Banner)
By Sandra Larson
Special to the NNPA from Bay State Banner via New American Media
BOSTON — In Boston’s largely Caribbean and African American Mattapan neighborhood, the family of Curline Wilmoth, 67, has been struggling to care for her after she suffered a debilitating stroke in 2010 and had to leave her job as a hospital housekeeper.
Then, as happens too often when an elder returns from a hospital, Wilmoth and her family found she couldn’t safely move in or around her home. For instance, her wheelchair wouldn’t fit through the bathroom door. And family members had to carry the chair down and up the front steps each time Wilmoth went to the doctor or to senior center programs.
Increasing–and More Diverse–Elders
The rapidly aging United States population, especially in metropolitan areas like Boston, means that an increasingly nonwhite population of older adults with lower lifetime earnings and scant assets will grow.
In particular, ethnic elders, who tend to fall on the lower side of racial wealth and income gaps, are finding themselves unable to cover unanticipated expenses, such as home repairs or modifications, necessary for their safety. Retired homeowners on a fixed income needing a new roof or major plumbing repair, for instance, can face the dilemma that advocates in aging call being “house rich, but cash poor.”
“We know the need continues to grow,” said Sandra Henriquez, CEO of Rebuilding Together, based in Washington, D.C. But home-repair assistance is out there, if seniors know where to look, she said.
“A lot of people who have spent good years helping in their communities now need some help themselves. We take seriously that we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers,” said Henriquez, former assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the Obama administration.
Rebuilding Together, a national nonprofit, has local affiliates that mobilize contractors and volunteers to perform free repairs and accessibility modifications. The organization assists about 10,000 low-income homeowners annually.
Among them is Wilmoth. Her family applied to Rebuilding Together Boston (RTB). During the organization’s National Rebuilding Days in April, a crew of local contractors and volunteers converged on the Wilmoth house to construct a wheelchair ramp, widen the bathroom door and install a more accessible toilet.
“God bless them, all of them,” said Wilmoth’s daughter Yvonne, 39. “Life will be much easier.”
Hard to Make Ends Meet
The older population nationally and locally is becoming more diverse. A recent report on aging in Boston by the University of Massachusetts, Boston, Gerontology Institute and the Boston Elderly Commission shows that from 2000 to 2010, the number of White people 60 and older dropped 3 percent in Boston, while numbers for all nonwhite groups increased. These trends are expected to continue.
Boston’s senior population is projected to grow by 22,500 households between 2010 and 2030, according to data in the city’s recently released housing plan. A majority of the new senior households will have annual incomes under $50,000, according to the report.
The Gerontology Institute applied its Elder Economic Security Index to measure how much income people 65-plus need to meet their basic living expenses for essentials like food, health care, transportation and housing.
The Institute estimates that in Suffolk County, primarily encompassing Boston, a home-owning couple without a mortgage typically needs $35,256 per year — far more than double the official federal poverty level— just to get by. A single person with a mortgage may need more than another $2,000 to cover basic costs, according to the Index.
Programs for Home Repair
Henriquez, who also previously ran the Boston Housing Authority, emphasized that home repair assistance — by both government and nonprofit sectors — offers a means of tackling a problem that can push seniors into nursing homes or even homelessness.
The average homeowner Rebuilding Together serves nationally has lived in the home for 23 years, but most have spent less than $1,000 on repairs and improvements in the prior two years — far less than a typical homeowner.
Clara Garcia is director of senior services at United South End Settlements (USES) in Boston, one of the provider agencies for the city’s Home Center, which funds home repairs for Boston’s low-income elders. Garcia sees firsthand insufficient home maintenance that can lead to serious safety, health and accessibility problems.
“We see homes that are very dilapidated,” she said. “The seniors as they’ve aged have not really kept up with the upkeep. They feel that owning the house is the important thing, and do not realize how it’s deteriorating.”
Using federal Community Development Block Grant funds, the city has provided repair aid for 520 senior homeowners in the past year; of these, USES handled 53 in Boston’s Roxbury community and other neighborhoods. Provider agencies perform minor repairs such as fixing doorbells and installing bathroom grab bars.
For larger jobs such as roof or heating system replacement, they help homeowners apply for the Home Center’s major repair funds. Low-income seniors who are current with their water and property tax bills may be able to receive a no-interest loan or a grant.
Paperwork and Waiting Game
Joanne C., 70, has been struggling for the past several years to keep up with home repairs on a meager income, while caring for her ill husband. As an African American who owns her home in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood free and clear, Joanne bucks the wealth gap trend in one sense, but she’s not alone in her need to pinch pennies and seek help.
At her small dining room table in April, Joanne, who did not wish to include her last name, motioned to a pile of documents assembled for repair assistance applications.
Proving her eligibility for help has not been difficult, she said. Social Security and a small pension from her 30-plus years as a hospital diet educator bring in about $30,000 annually.
But her quarterly property tax bill went up by $100 this year. And after a harsh winter, with a faulty heat system, she is still paying off two $800 heat bills: one for the upper floors and another for a first-floor former rental unit that now serves as an accessible living space for her husband.
Recently, Joanne applied for the second time to Rebuilding Together Boston. Her first application a couple of years ago was rejected. To her surprise, they didn’t deem her repair needs big enough to send a crew of volunteers.
“If I’d known they wanted to be here all day, I would have showed them more!” she said ruefully. “I didn’t know! So I was turned down.”
Now, as she awaited word from RTB, she was also looking forward to a scheduled appointment with Clara Garcia to see if USES Senior Services could help.
Relief in Sight
One senior already helped by USES is Patricia Hecker, 74, who received assistance for roof repair, storm windows and a new back door on her Roxbury home.
Hecker bought her house 15 years ago, making the down payment with money she saved from selling crafts, she said. Her mortgage payment takes up much of her income, a pension from 22 years of work as a driver for the city’s Senior Shuttle service. She is happy with her home on a quiet street with a small garden – but admits it’s a struggle to make ends meet.
“When you’re on a fixed income and you have no money to fix things, you just do what you have to do – I was putting bedspreads across the windows, shutting doors, wearing tons of sweaters and putting blankets on my lap. It was awful, for a while,” she said, sitting down at USES before going to senior lunch and an art class. “Now it’s a lot warmer. It’s really helped.”
By mid-May, Joanne, too, sounded upbeat. Garcia had visited, and USES will take care of some of Joanne’s small repair tasks and help her apply for major repair funds for the heating system.
“I didn’t want to get a loan, but if in 10 years I can still be comfortable in my home, I’ll be happy,” she said. “I’m just so vulnerable at this point, and so tired. I have to get that heat fixed before next winter.”
She added, “It looks like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”
This article is adapted from a story Sandra Larson wrote for Boston’s Bay State Banner through a Journalists in Aging Fellowship, a collaboration of New America Media and the Gerontological Society of America, with support from AARP. This story is part of a series on housing challenges for low-income seniors in Boston.
Community
Asm. Corey Jackson Announces Launch of 24-Hour Childcare in His District
Assemblymember Corey Jackson has secured $2 million in state funding for a proposed childcare special district in Moreno Valley and Perris. This funding aims to establish a system providing 24-hour, seven-day-a-week childcare, which would be California’s first special district focused solely on childcare. The initiative seeks to address the area’s designation as a “childcare desert” and high costs for working families. The funding will cover startup, planning, and formation costs for the district. Read more about the specifics of this groundbreaking initiative.
Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) has secured $2 million in state funding to launch a proposed childcare special district serving families in Moreno Valley and Perris, paving the way for a system designed to provide childcare 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Moreno Valley-Perris Childcare Special District would be the first special district in California focused specifically on childcare, according to Jackson’s office. The state funding will cover startup, planning, and formation costs and help the district meet requirements set by the Riverside Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO.
The proposed district would coordinate a mixed-delivery childcare system that could include home-based and center-based care. The goal is to provide universal childcare for families who work overnight, early morning, or other nontraditional shifts.
Jackson’s office says Moreno Valley is a certified “childcare desert,” with licensed childcare spaces available for only 15% of children with working parents. Infant care in Moreno Valley averages $2,776 a month, or about 35.7% of median household income. In Perris, licensed infant care can cost more than 60% of an individual worker’s gross median earnings, according to the assemblymember’s office.
“Securing this $2 million in startup funding is a monumental victory for the working-class families of Moreno Valley and Perris who have been trapped in a childcare desert for far too long,” Jackson said.
The proposal follows Jackson’s unsuccessful effort to establish the district through Assembly Bill 2083. The legislation would have created the district as a dependent special district covering Moreno Valley, Perris and their spheres of influence, with Riverside LAFCO responsible for reviewing its formation and boundaries.
The new funding allows the district’s formation to move forward without requiring mandatory contributions from local school districts and other stakeholders, according to Jackson’s office. His spokesperson, Daniel Peeden, said Jackson hopes the district can be operating by 2028.
The proposal has faced questions from some local officials. Moreno Valley City Councilmember Ed Delgado, who is running against Jackson for the 60th Assembly District seat, said he supports affordable childcare but questioned how the proposed district would operate and how much it would ultimately cost.
“Basically, he didn’t have a plan. We didn’t see a plan,” Delgado said, adding that officials had questions about operating costs, insurance and eligibility.
“It’s going to take a lot more than $2 million to create a special district to provide affordable childcare,” Delgado said.
Delgado has suggested working with existing childcare centers to subsidize costs for local families rather than creating a new agency.
Jackson’s office says the program will lower barriers to “workforce participation” and reduce “affordability anxiety” for young families. This landmark District is poised to trigger a virtuous cycle of economic upward mobility and long-term regional prosperity in the 60th Assembly District, his office added.
Black History
IN MEMORIAM: The Rev. Leon “Sonny” Clark, Longtime Orange County Pastor and Community Leader, Dies at 72
Rev. Leon William “Sonny” Clark, the longtime pastor of New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana and a prominent faith and community leader in Orange County, passed away on September 9 at the age of 72. Born in Bennettsville, South Carolina, Clark was a U.S. Navy veteran who dedicated his life to service. He served various Southern California churches before leading New Spirit Baptist Church for over 22 years, extending his work into counseling, mentoring, and civic engagement, and supporting the African American community. To learn more about his life and contributions, read more.
Rev. Leon William “Sonny” Clark, longtime pastor of New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana and a respected faith and community leader in Orange County, died Sept. 9. He was 72.
Born Oct. 2, 1953, in Bennettsville, South Carolina, Clark was a U.S. Navy veteran who later built a life of service centered on family, faith, ministry, and community.
Clark began his formal ministry at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Altadena in 1978. After acknowledging his call to ministry in 1980, he preached his first sermon and went on to serve churches throughout Southern California, including Second Baptist Church in Riverside, Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Rubidoux, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Pomona, and Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda.
In November 2003, Clark was called to lead New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana, where he served as pastor for more than 22 years. His work extended beyond the pulpit through counseling, mentoring, civic engagement, and efforts to strengthen Orange County’s African American community.
Clark served on the Orange County Heritage Council and supported efforts to preserve and celebrate African American history and culture. He helped organize the Orange County Black History Parade and Unity Festival, served on the Interfaith Committee and the Orange County Transit Authority, and served as president of the Orange County Ministers Conference.
In 2024, the City of Santa Ana recognized Clark for his contributions to the community. He also received the Orange County Southern Baptist Association Hall of Faith Award and was previously honored as Pastor of the Year by the Orange County Heritage Council.
Clark is survived by his wife, Andrea Joyles Clark; six children, Shawn Williams, Le Ondra Clark Harvey, Kyla Coward, Joshua Clark, Marissa Clark and Ashley Clark; grandchildren and great-grandchildren; siblings; extended family; and the New Spirit Baptist Church congregation.
A wake will be held Thursday, Oct. 1, from 4 to 8 p.m. at New Spirit Baptist Church, 701 S. Sullivan St. in Santa Ana, with a remembrance service from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, Oct. 2, at Friendship Baptist Church, 17145 Bastanchury Road in Yorba Linda. Viewing begins at noon, followed by the service at 1 p.m.
Burial will take place Monday, Oct. 5, at 10:15 a.m. at Riverside National Cemetery.
Clark often shared a guiding principle that shaped his ministry: “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
Economy
Poll: Becerra Widens His Lead Over Hilton; Californians Split on Wealth Tax
A new Public Policy Institute of California poll shows Democrat Xavier Becerra leads Republican Steve Hilton by 22 points in California’s governor’s race, with 60% of likely voters supporting Becerra compared to 38% for Hilton. The September survey also reveals Californians are closely divided on a proposed one-time tax on billionaires, with 52% of likely voters in favor of Proposition 40. Affordability issues are a major factor for voters. Read more to learn about the poll’s additional findings on voter sentiment.
Democrat Xavier Becerra holds a 22-point lead over Republican Steve Hilton in California’s governor’s race, while voters remain closely divided over a proposed one-time tax on billionaires, according to a new Public Policy Institute of California poll.
The September PPIC survey found that 60% of likely voters support Becerra, compared with 38% for Hilton. His lead is actually narrower than it was in July, when he led Hilton 61% to 36%.
Becerra leads among independent voters, with 57% supporting him compared with 38% for Hilton. Party loyalty remains strong, with 93% of Democratic likely voters backing Becerra and 92% of Republicans supporting Hilton.
Hilton leads in the Central Valley, where 52% of likely voters support him compared with 46% for Becerra.
Affordability remains a major factor: 65% of likely voters say candidates’ plans to address cost-of-living issues are “very important” to their vote.
“Affordability continues to be top of mind for Californians when considering their choice for governor,” said Mark Baldassare, PPIC Statewide Survey director and Miller Chair in Public Policy.
The poll also found a narrow split over Proposition 40, a proposed one-time tax of up to 5% on taxpayers with assets exceeding $1 billion. Fifty-two percent of likely voters said they would vote yes, while 46% said they would vote no.
Support for the wealth tax varies sharply by party. Seventy-two percent of Democrats favor Proposition 40, compared with 46% of independents and 21% of Republicans.
Two competing measures also drew majority support. Fifty-one percent back Proposition 41, while 54% support Proposition 42, both of which could affect the wealth-tax proposal.
The findings come as Californians express broader frustration with the state’s political direction. Seventy-one percent of likely voters expect bad economic times in California over the next year.
“Californians are clearly grumpy and aren’t enamored with any particular political party or movement,” Baldassare said.
The survey interviewed 1,745 California adults, including 1,103 likely voters, from Sept. 4-10. The margin of error for likely voters is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.
-
Community2 weeks ago
Misnamed ‘Parent’ PAC Seeks to Influence Oakland School Board Elections
-
Activism3 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of September 2 – 8, 2026
-
Community2 weeks ago
Richmond Tiny House Village Farm & Garden Set to Open Gates on Sept. 26
-
Black History2 weeks ago
Latest Massacre in Haiti Reveals Cruelty U.S. Deportations
-
Black History2 weeks ago
OPINION: Nolan Wells’ Death One of Several Signifying Racial Terror Lives on in U.S. South
-
Activism2 weeks ago
Oakland Post: Week of September 9 – 15, 2026
-
Community2 weeks ago
Democratic Clubs Interview Candidates for Oakland School Board
-
Featured2 weeks ago
‘Ready to See These Bills Become Law’: Sen. Weber’s Package of 15 Bills Advance to Gov. Newsom’s Desk
Leave a Reply