Consalvo: Save Boston Housing Program for Elderly

City Councilor Rob Consalvo called for stop gap funding to save the Boston Housing Authority resident services program that assists more than 3,500 low-income, elderly and disabled residents across the city.

"On May 1 the resident services program was ended due to cuts on the federal level that funded the program the and the impact of those cuts are being felt locally," District 5 City Councilor Rob Consalvo said during Wednesday's council meeting. "All resident service coordinators were eliminated..." In total, 40 positions are no longer being funded.

"This has a dire and serious impact on Boston people who are still going to live in public housing. [Resident Service Coordinators] work day-to-day to provide help on healthcare, nutritional services, substance abuse help, money management... and to keep people safe and people living a good quality life."

The matter was referred to the Committee on Housing, during which the Boston Housing Authority will testify on how they intend to fill the needs of that program, especially during the more active months of summer.

Consalvo said that the Boston Housing Authority "does a great job. They need our help."