Seniors at the Cypress View Foundation enjoying lunch on Wednesday. (Ross Lavigne/CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill

Affordable senior housing in demand in Medicine Hat

Jun 20, 2024 | 9:33 AM

Seniors are among those in Medicine Hat heavily impacted by a lack of affordable housing, say local advocates.

The Cypress View Foundation, is a non-profit organization provides affordable housing for seniors of varied income and support levels.

Jamie Sawatzy, community relations coordinator, said they regularly have waiting lists, as the building allows for residents changing needs, including up to 24 hour health care aid support.

“We’re not just a regular apartment building. We’re attached to a wonderful assisted living place here,” Sawatzky said.

“The beauty of that is that residents can start up in apartments, and then as they grow older, and if their health needs increase, they can age in place throughout the building.”

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The Medicine Hat Community Housing Society offers subsidized housing in their six self-contained apartment buildings, as well as rent supplements in the community for seniors.

CAO Robin Miiller says the demand is there.

“300 in total seniors are served through one or the other of those affordable housing programs, have about 61 people on our wait list for those programs as well,” Miiller said.

Sawatzky said their funding model makes sure residents have a certain amount of disposable income available.

“Our rent is not based on suites or services, it’s all based on income,” Sawatzky said.

“We have a formula that’s provided to us from the government for subsidy. If a resident makes under a certain amount, then we use that formula to determine their rent.”

The Cypress View Foundation was recently accredited for three years by CARF International, a health and human services accreditor.

Sawatzky said they have three levels of living at their facility starting with the self contained apartments.

“Those residents are 100 per cent completely independent, the do all of the cooking, cleaning, just like they would at home,” Sawatzky said.

“Once a resident decides that they want to move into our lodge level, then that’s when it’s like an all inclusive hotel.”

The facility has numerous dining areas, a gardening area, library and lots of other areas for recreation, with an area for music and presentations.

There are even some resident cats on site adopted from the SPCA, for their pet lovers.

Offering a sense of community for retiring seniors.