As opportunities to move into senior apartments become increasingly difficult, some senior apartments are limiting where and when they hand out applications. This has led some Korean seniors to spend the night on the streets waiting in line for applications. The community needs to take an active role in helping Korean seniors in need.
According to Ktown Action (President Dae Joong Yoon), an organization that deals with low-income apartment issues, Korean seniors began lining up overnight at Miramar Towers, a senior apartment complex on Alvarado and 3rd streets, after it was announced that new applications were being distributed.
On the first day of distribution, November 20, more than 100 seniors reportedly lined up overnight on the street to receive applications. The all-night line continued for two to three days, and as of December 1, they were still waiting in line in the morning.
The all-night line for seniors was caused by Miramar Towers’ management limiting the distribution and acceptance of applications to office visitors only.
Specifically, the office has separated the processes of application distribution and registration. Applications are distributed exclusively on Mondays and Wednesdays, leading to Korean seniors lining up before the office opens to receive them. The registration process takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. This schedule has resulted in long lines forming just to enter the office and register.
Miramar Towers, which has 157 one-bedroom apartments, is accepting new applications for the first time in nearly a decade. Applications will be accepted through December 20.
Miramar Towers is part of the federally funded Section 8 program, which allows residents to pay 30 percent of their income and have the rest of their rent subsidized. It is also one of the most preferred senior apartments for Korean seniors due to its proximity to LA Koreatown. More than half of the current residents are of Korean descent.
Ktown Action said it contacted the apartment management to explain the situation and asked if it could distribute the applications in Koreatown. However, the management refused, citing Federal Housing Administration regulations.
“By restricting applicants to visit the office in person to apply and receive applications, many Korean seniors waited all night in the cold to pick up their applications,” said Dae Joong Yoon, president of Ktown Action. “I don’t know why they make seniors stand on the street when they can apply by email or on the website,” he added.
“I feel very sad and upset about the reality that Korean seniors are facing. We will be sending letters to the Miramar Towers management, the Federal Housing Administration, and the City of Los Angeles to complain and demand corrections so that this kind of unfortunate situation does not happen again,” Yoon stated.
Ktown Action is collecting real-life stories of Korean seniors who have experienced difficulties with the application process for senior apartments, such as the Miramar Towers case. They are also looking for Korean American organizations and institutions to join the letter to government agencies.
“I had no idea that Korean seniors were facing such difficulties,” said Ktown Action president Yoon. “We want the Korean American community to speak up and help Korean seniors feel more comfortable.”
Contact: (323) 545-8778 or djyoon@kaction.org
BY NICOLE CHANG, JUNHAN PARK [chang.nicole@koreadaily.com]
