The Michael II

Michael lived in Staten Island for most of his life. He worked in the dry cleaning business for over 20 years. After past struggles with drug addiction, he has been sober for 27 years.

One day he was on the bus and had a stroke. Michael woke up in the hospital and he couldn’t see. He was blind for four years before his vision returned. While he was in the hospital, he couldn’t work. He lost his job and his apartment. He says one day he was on top of the world and the next he felt like it was all over. After that his medical issues continued - he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He says he learned to be strong and to start to care less about material things.

Michael did not have a home to call his own for a few years. When he heard that there was an opening at an affordable housing building in Brooklyn, he interviewed for an apartment and moved in within two weeks. JASA’s Residential Services team helped him settle in. They assisted with transportation to doctor’s appointments and connected him with benefits such as food assistance. Michael says since moving to his apartment, his life has changed for the better and his health improved.

JASA provides Residential Services at 16 senior affordable apartment buildings. Three different programs increase housing accessibility and offer supportive services for low-income tenants and formerly homeless seniors: Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Service Coordination, Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA), and New York State’s Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI). These programs provide a range of case management services, group programming, and they increase social connection.

These earrings are handmade with love and care by JASA seniors. Treat yourself today and support older New Yorkers!