Newspapers / The AC Phoenix News … / Dec. 1, 1987, edition 1 / Page 9
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Page 9 A Rising Cost Growing Old Experts say this area is a nice place to live when you grow old. A recent ar ticle in Carolina Piedmont paints a pretty picture: - A retirement consul tant estimates that a retirement couple "can live comfortably" here for $ 12,600 a year compared to a $13,514 budget for the "average retired couple." - North Carolina has one of the lowest tax burdens on retirees in the - North Carolina offers 54 seperate projects for the elderly, according to the Division on Aging. Locally, there are pro grams sponsored by agen cies like the Winston- Salem Urban League. These figures of course, do not take into account the problems of the Black aged; the most debilitating problem being poverty. Most of our Black elder ly, locally and nation wide, live below the poverty line ($4,979), ac most of their years in an overtly racist society and not being paid reasonable living wage, our senior citizens are now retiring on meager pensions. Very few - and I mean very few - own any additional assets (stocks & bonds, savings accounts, etc.) on which to live on. This lack of finances creates other problems. When money is tight, safe and comfortable housing is often too costly. On a $325 monthly income. - The average costs of new housing and rentals rank below the national average. - Hospital rooms, accor ding to the Health In surance Association, are cheaper than in any state but South Carolina and Mississippi. cording to the National Caucus and Center for Black Aged in Washington, D.C. "Near ly every other major pro blem affecting elderly Blacks, "says Samuel Sim mons, NCBA president," is related in one form or another to insufficient where would a 65-year single Black woman be living if a third of her paycheck is paid out in rent? You guessed it. They are likely to live in "high crime" areas or in close proximately to those areas. Most of the are - FBI records claim North Carolina ranks eleventh among state in lowest amount of proper ty crime. income. In North Carolina the phrase "insufficient in come" is an understate ment. Having worked afraid to leave their apart ments and, in effect, place themselves under a form of "house arrest." When they do venture out. Distinguished Senior Citizens of the Winston-Salem Com munity came together at the Red Room, on the campus of W.S.S.U. to fellowship and break bread together. The Senior Citizens func tions for the holidays are sponsored in part by the Sara Lee Corporation. studies show, they are more likely to have a crime committed against them by someone they know or have seen before. Most of these crimes go unreported because the victims are often told that they "better not tell no one." Would you? Fortunately Black senior citizens, despite these disadvantages, are not without programs design ed to ease burden some situations. In Winston- Salem, the Urban League provides a number of pro grams, thanks to its former president, Thomas Elijah. Its comprehensive senior citizens program provides health and exercise classes, new careers train ing and through its Com munity Service program, pays senior citizns to work 20 hours a week for other agencies like the Continued on page 18 m his Christmas... letusbethe'‘BEST” part of your life... RUSSELL FUNERAL HOME DEDICATED ...‘TO SERVE YOU BETTER” PHONE: (919)722-3459 Martin Luther King Dr. at Ridge Ave. Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101 FLORRIES.RUSSELL— CARLH.RUSSELL, JR. — CEDRICL. RUSSELL— CHRISTOPHER W. RUSSEUT^^ EDWARD B. RUSSELL CARME^ RUSSELL BOINHAM THE RUSSELL FAMILY Russell’s Funeral Home Family and Staff Wishes All a Very I Merry Christmas arui a Most Prosperous and Happy New Year!
The AC Phoenix News (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Dec. 1, 1987, edition 1
9
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