Senior Spotlight By John Toscano
Gennaro Seeks $1.3 M For Seniors' Home Meals; Mortgage Aid For Vets

City Councilmember James Gennaro has launched a $1.3 million "Citymeals-on-Wheels Initiative" to help provide essential funding for the Citymeals-on-Wheels organization, which provides daily meals for 18,000 homebound elderly New Yorkers.

Gennaro (D- Fresh Meadows) was joined by several colleagues in his effort to secure funding for Citymeals-on-Wheels, including Councilmembers David Weprin and Tony Avella.

Avella (D- Bayside) stated, "With the cost of food on the rise, it is critical that we in the council work to ensure that the Citymeals-on-Wheels Program receives the funding necessary to deliver this important service to our seniors."

Weprin (D- Hollis), chairman of the council Finance Committee, commented that the food service program allows the city to make a major difference in the lives of thousands of homebound seniors. "Helping secure the health and nourishment of those elderly would not otherwise be provided," Weprin said.

Gennaro described the program as "a vital lifeline for 18,000 New Yorkers". He said that by providing warm meals and personal delivery to seniors citywide, the Citymeals organization serves one of the most important, yet neglected, communities in New York City.

The lawmaker explained that the organization raises funds to provide the meals to the homebound elderly in their "most critical times of need- times when they might otherwise be hungry and alone".

In doing so, he noted, the program also enables the seniors to continue to live in the comfort of their own homes.

Gennaro said the $1.3 million he hopes to secure in council funding is essential for the organization to keep up the program.

He explained that each council dollar given is "leveraged 14 times over in private donations from individuals, foundations and corporations".

Additionally, he said, the program also actually generates revenue for the city through the federal government's cash in lieu of commodities program, which reimburses the city Department for the Aging (DFTA) approximately 59 cents for every meal provided by citymeals.

This year, Gennaro said, Citymeals-on- Wheels will generate approximately $1.6 million in federal dollars for New York City.

Citing another reason to assist the Citymeals program, Gennaro said the number of seniors in the city is steadily rising, as is the number of those who need and request Citymeals' services.

Gennaro said that the city Planning Department predicts that in 25 years there will be 46 percent more New Yorkers over the age of 60 than there are right now. More than 150,000 will be over 85.

Marcia Stein, executive director of the Citymeals program, stated that the organization is grateful to Gennaro for championing "this initiative on behalf of New York's 18,000 homebound elderly who depend on the lifeline of home delivered meals that we underwrite".

Stein added: "The City Council's continued support of Citymeals-on-Wheels is critically important and enables us to feed ever growing numbers of aged New Yorkers in spite of rising food costs."

MORTGAGE AID FOR VETS: The State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) and the state Division of Veterans' Affairs recently unveiled a "Homes for Veterans" Program that will help military veterans to achieve the dream of home ownership.

The program, announced by Governor Eliot Spitzer on Memorial Day, in just the first year of ownership will save an average of approximately $4,000 when compared to SONYMA'S already below market low interest rate mortgage, SONYMA President Priscilla Almodovar said.

Assemblymember Audrey Pheffer (D- Rockaways Beach) said the program will only be available through M & T Bank throughout New York state.

Unlike other SONYMA programs, Homes for Veterans will require only 1 percent of the home purchase price to come from the borrower's own funds, while the remaining 2 percent can come from a gift or other acceptable sources of financing.

Veterans can call SONYMA toll free at 1- 800-382-HOME (4663) to get contact information for M & T Bank. To qualify for the program, veterans must provide proof of active duty and proof of release from duty under conditions other than dishonorable by submitting DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, Pheffer said. Additionally, veterans must satisfy SONYMA's income and home purchase price limits as well as other eligibility requirements.