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For many Okanagan seniors, making ends meet is becoming harder to do.
Fixed incomes are being overpowered by the cost of living and more often, area seniors are turning to social agencies for a helping hand.
Officials with the Upper Room Mission and the Salvation Army food bank have both noticed an increase in seniors seeking help.
“We are seeing an increase in seniors and low-income families,” said Lisa Anderson with the URM.
The working poor are also using the Mission in greater numbers as expenses increase while wages do not.
Lee Brinkman, senior services co-ordinator with the NexusBC Community Resource Centre, said lack of affordable housing is one of the main challenges many seniors face.
“We have huge wait lists for affordable housing. It can take months to get into something,” said Brinkman.
One of the roles the centre plays is helping seniors fill out the forms needed to access rental supplements such as the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program and the guaranteed income supplement.
The centre helps seniors 60-plus with a range of services including housing options, transportation resources and referrals to agencies for legal, tenancy and abuse issues.
“We have had an increase of filling out applications in the last two years,” said Brinkman. “There is a greater need for it.”
Part of that increase in business is because the centre is becoming better known in the community, and because more people are simply not able to keep up to the financial demands of 2015.
Brinkman said lack of transportation is another big problem for seniors.
Nexus has a volunteer driver program that helps seniors get to doctor appointments, go shopping or other needs that require transportation.
The centre also does what it can to help reduce the financial burden by taking part in a coupon program with the Vernon Farmer's Market where seniors are provided with coupons to purchase fresh food.
The Senior Santa Program has area businesses and organizations donate items to seniors in need.
There are 13,000 seniors living in Greater Vernon, giving the area a higher-than-average number of older residents.
“Some services are funded by government dollars, but many are volunteer‐based and provided by seniors to seniors,” said Brinkman.
