Michigan Medicine Housing Bureau for Seniors describes free services, warns of cost pressures for older adults

Brigitte Marsan, host of the local program Senior Moments, interviewed Ivan Patney, associate director of outreach and education for Michigan Medicine’s Housing Bureau for Seniors, on ways older adults can avoid losing housing and where to get free help.

Patney said the Bureau, which operates as part of Michigan Medicine’s Community Health Services within U of M Health, provides intake, eviction-prevention and foreclosure-prevention assistance, housing counseling and community education. "Our aim is to prevent homelessness," he said, describing an intake system that triages callers to an eviction-prevention coordinator for renters or a foreclosure-prevention coordinator for homeowners.

Patney offered concrete examples of the Bureau’s work. He described staff negotiating with landlords for reasonable accommodations when Social Security timing causes late rent fees, and working with banks or the county treasurer to avert mortgage or property-tax foreclosures. "Older adults who are 65 and older are the fastest growing segment of the unhoused population in the United States right now," he said.

He said the program serves people aged 55 and over and that "our services are free to everybody." Patney also said the Bureau maintains a senior living community guide listing price ranges and amenities and that some units are available immediately while others have waiting lists.

Using the Bureau’s census data, Patney said "approximately 30% of the older adult population here in Washtenaw County is spending more than one-third of their income on housing-related expenses." He later stated a related figure for renters, saying about "30% are spending 50% of their income or more" on housing; the numbers were presented on the show and appear to refer to different measures of cost burden.

Patney also said about 15,000 older-household households are cost-burdened in the county and that the Bureau has roughly one subsidized or below-market-rate unit for every 10 households that need assistance. He urged listeners who are struggling with housing to call the Bureau for help finding affordable options or connecting with community resources.

On events, Patney said the Bureau took part in a collaborative fundraiser on June 10 and will lead Senior Living Week beginning Oct. 10, 2026, at Washtenaw Community College’s Morris Lawrence Building; Jeanette Liardi, author of Aging Sideways, is the featured speaker. He also noted the Bureau’s office at 3621 South State Street will move in November to a location next door to the studio on South Industrial.

The interview emphasized outreach and education: Patney said he and colleagues present aging-sensitivity exercises and tailored briefings for elected officials and community groups to increase awareness of older adults’ housing needs. Marsan closed by encouraging viewers to obtain brochures and share the information.

The Bureau’s services, eligibility (55 and older), the free-cost policy, the October Senior Living Week date and the local address were given on the program. Listeners were directed to contact the Housing Bureau for Seniors for more details and assistance.