From the cover
Lewisville, Coppell exploring options for seniors
BY DESTINE GIBSON & CONNOR PITTMAN
The options
Grant program funds
Two-minute impact
$123,400 available in funding $116,000 issued to date
The Lewisville Senior Rental Assistance Grant Program launched in June. It is specifically for low- to moderate-income seniors who have received an increase in their apartment rent for the months remaining on that lease, according to program details. The program recently paused to allow city staff to process the high volume of applications, Feryan said. “[The grant program] has been top of mind for city staff and council for a while,” Feryan said. Applications are not anticipated to reopen due to insufficient funds. While the grant program has closed, there are other options to receive assistance. For example, local nonprofit Span serves meals for seniors at
One option city staff have come up with would allow Coppell seniors to remain residents as they get older. Per the description in a 2023 active adult survey, an adult village could include activities, home assistance and in-home help, all provided by volunteers. “It is truly trying creative solutions to provide one option for seniors in Coppell,” Hurley said. Affordable senior housing continues to be a priority for Lewisville City Council and staff, Neighborhood Services Manager Ashleigh Feryan said. A senior rental assistance program launched earlier this year. Feryan said city staff are also looking into more grant opportunities. One program, for example, would provide funding for accessory dwelling units. “We’re always looking for grants,” she said.
6% available funds remaining
$7,400 available funds remaining
SOURCE: CITY OF LEWISVILLE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Lewisville’s Thrive recreation center. Serve Lew- isville, which opened in July and houses multiple nonprofits, has a monthly food pantry on-site and mental health resources. “Having food at Serve Lewisville can hopefully help [seniors] reduce their grocery costs so that they can focus their funding on rent,” Feryan said.
The approach
Coppell active adult residential plans The survey results come from Coppell’s 2023 active adult survey, which was sent to all residents of the city.
Population breakdown
Staff at the Coppell Senior and Community Cen- ter try to provide affordable access to information, classes and programs, said Calie Willis, recreation manager for Coppell Community Experiences, a city department. “They can take their relationships they have here, and take them home and combat the isola- tion they have outside of here,” Willis said. Coppell offers programs such as a property tax cap for seniors as well as reduced water and garbage rates. The city has also formed the Future Oriented Approach to Residential Opportunities Board to study ongoing housing needs and recommenda- tions for the city’s Vision 2040 plan.
Under age 5
5-19
20-64
Age 65 and over
I plan to stay in my current residence in Coppell I will likely downsize in Coppell
65%
65.4%
61%
12%
I will likely upsize in Coppell
4%
23.7%
19.2%
I will likely move out of Coppell
18%
9.5%
8.3% 6%
7.1%
Top 3 reasons for leaving Coppell:
Lewisville
Coppell
1. Taxes are too high
2. Other cities are more affordable
3. Smaller home needed
SOURCE: US CENSUS/COMMUNITY IMPACT NOTE: PERCENTAGES DO NOT EQUAL 100% DUE TO ROUNDING
SOURCE: ONPOINTE INSIGHTS/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Looking ahead
pertaining to seniors and their needs. The group also supports seniors by providing transportation and picking up donated groceries, for example. One of their goals is to expand their services and help spread information on available resources, Sansom said. “We want to help other local seniors,” she said.
“That’s when we’ll be able to look at the real needs of the virtual village and what the components will be,” Hurley said. The Lewisville Senior Living Challenges organization meets with city officials regularly, Nancy Sansom said. The group is planning to advocate for the creation of a senior advisory board in Lewisville. Council- appointed members would advise on matters
Hurley said a proposal for a virtual village will likely be made to Coppell council in early 2024. Program components have not yet been decided, but information gathered by the 2023 active adult survey will be used to justify programs. Once a virtual village is established, Hurley said Coppell staff will be able to analyze the program’s needs and make adjustments.
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LEWISVILLE - COPPELL EDITION
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