Seniors
Where I Stand
Our seniors provide community wisdom and are protectors of our history. I consider them one of my most important and vulnerable constituencies. That’s why I’m fighting to keep them safe and ensure they can continue living in the homes and communities they love. I’m also working to make sure city services are working for seniors – everything from safe sidewalks and good affordable housing to ensuring that their grandchildren have the highest quality schools we can provide.

What I've Done
Building Connections with our Seniors
- Regularly visit with Ward 1 seniors to listen to their concerns, share updates from the Council, participate in exercise classes, and more.
- Host Ward 1 seniors at events throughout the year, including during the holidays, at Thanksgiving, and for Valentine's Day.
- Built a strong constituent services team that works to ensure our seniors get the high-quality District services they deserve.
Budget
- Increased Alzheimer funding by $500,000 to ensure that care does not get interrupted
- Protected funding for Safe at Home, which provides up to $10,000 for in-home modifications to ensure that people can age in place rather than move to a costly nursing home.
- Funded Senior Wellness Centers at $2,891,000.
- Increased senior transportation funding by $445,000.
- Voted for $250,000 in funding for Senior Villages, a program that helps seniors stay at home in their neighborhoods.
Healthcare
- Shepherded the Specialty Drug Copayment Limitation Act through my subcommittee, which passed the Council in February 2017.
- The bill creates monthly caps on copays or coinsurance for specialty drugs.
- The high cost of prescription medication can be burdensome, especially for those living on a fixed income. When those medications are specialty drugs, it can even more difficult to maintain treatment.
- The bill creates monthly caps on copays or coinsurance for specialty drugs.
Affordable Housing for Seniors
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Supported the addition of $234K in housing vouchers for low-income seniors in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget.
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Supported the addition of $234K in housing vouchers for LGBTQ seniors in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget.
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Supported the addition of $100K in housing vouchers for community dining supports for LGBTQ seniors in the Fiscal Year 2021 budget.
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Supported the passage and funding of the Rental Assistance for Unassisted Seniors Amendment Act of 2018, which provides a rental subsidy to low-income seniors who are rent burdened up to $600 a month to help them stay in their homes.
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Co-introduced the Senior Citizen and Person with a Disability Real Property Tax Relief Amendment Act, which provides property tax deductions of 80 and 90 percent for low-income seniors and people with disabilities.
- Supported the New Communities redevelopment of Park Morton at Bruce Monroe, which calls for 85 units of affordable senior housing.
- Co-introduced the Rent Control Hardship Petition Limitation Act, which helps control rent increases.
- Co-introduced the Elderly and Tenants with Disabilities Protection Amendment Act of 2015, which creates new rental protections for seniors and increases penalties for landlords who are trying to force seniors out of their housing.
- Co-introduced the Rent Control Housing Clearinghouse Amendment Act of 2015, which will make it easier for people to apply for rent controlled apartments.
- Supports the new project at 14 and Clifton Streets, NW which includes 15 units of Permanent Supportive Housing for Seniors.
Protecting Seniors
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Amended the “Senior Strategic Plan Amendment Act of 2019” to add requirements to the strategic plan for consideration of the needs of senior District residents with disabilities that prevent them from caring for themselves and directs the agency to examine the needs of middle-income aged District residents who do not qualify for Medicaid but who also cannot afford to pay for long-term care out of pocket.
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Co-introduced the “Keeping Cool Elderly Tenants and Tenants with a Disability Amendment Act of 2020”, which requires housing providers to provide the rental units of elderly tenants and tenants with a disability with refrigerated air equipment capable of maintaining a room temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit or less.
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Introduced the AUTO Amendment Act of 2018, which would waive drivers license and identification fees at the DMV for seniors, returning citizens, and residents with unstable housing.
- Co-introduced the Financial Exploitation of Vulnerable Adults Amendment Act of 2015, which protects seniors from financial exploitation by increasing penalties for people who exploit seniors.
- Co-introduced an omnibus bill strengthening the right to Assisted Living and Long-Term Care and enhancing the standard of care at assisted living facilities.