Southwest Florida seniors find roommates to tackle housing costs

Housing costs are on the rise, and many older adults in Southwest Florida are turning to roommates to make ends meet.

The trend, once associated with college students, is now a financial necessity for some seniors. 

Brenda Laird, a senior now living with roommates, shared her story of overcoming homelessness.

"I used to sleep close to McDonald's sometimes, and then moved out where they're building that new Chick-fil-A behind the bank," said Laird.

She lived on the streets for a month before finding a home in Lehigh Acres with four other seniors, who she now calls family.

"Isaiah is a mess, and Gina and Joaquin have taught me seven Spanish Words," said Laird, referring to her new roommates.

Peggy Welch, founder of In This Together Homes, purchased the home where Laird and others now live.

"It's not just housing for them. I's also community," said Welch. "It's not only community with each other but also with me and my husband."

Welch emphasized the importance of finding solutions for affordable housing.

"We can complain about what we don't have, or we can be the solution. We can look for solutions and help one another," said Welch.

The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida is working to start a home share program, matching seniors with homes to those in need of housing.

"The main purpose is really to assist people with the cost of living, which is becoming so difficult to manage," said Sarah Gualco, director of programs and planning at the agency.

The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida is seeking a funding partner to launch their home share program.

Meantime, Welch has one more room available in her Lehigh Acres home.

Gregory Hunt, whose Fort Myers Beach home was devastated by Hurricane Ian three and a half years ago, is a senior who's trying to find a roommate.

"It wiped out my first floor, and so we had to deal with that, digging out, and a lot of FEMA help," said Hunt.

Hunt has been living with family and friends, but recently moved into an Airbnb due to space constraints.

"This month, I'm in an Airbnb, because all my family and friends have people here. I have to spend money, so it's been frustrating," said Hunt.

Hunt spends about $300 a week on Airbnb accommodations, and he is not alone in facing these challenges.

Thomas Felke, executive director of the Shady Rest Institute on Positive Aging at Florida Gulf Coast University, highlighted the difficulties seniors face.

"They're getting hit even harder than some other segments of the population because of the fact that a lot of them are on fixed incomes," said Felke.

In Lee County, 32,000 people age 60 and over are living below the poverty line.

"The adoption of a roommate is one of the things that we are seeing older adults turning to as everyone deals with the affordable housing crisis," said Felke.

Hunt is open to the idea of moving in with a roommate until his home is rebuilt.

"I'm 63 years old. I feel like I bought this house to finish here, and that part's been a downer," said Hunt. "I'd take a roommate. If somebody wanted to put me up, I'd be happy to."

The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida covers seven local counties and reports that 10% of their calls last month were for housing needs, a significant increase from previous months.