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Affordable Housing Facility gets new Name: POTIKER City Heights Residence

Senior Community Centers hosted an intimate gathering on Monday, Sept. 23 to honor a family with a big heart – Sheila and Hughes Potiker. The evening reception celebrated the family’s generous financial support of a $1 million matching gift challenge to sustain the future of low-income seniors now and for years to come.

To recognize the family’s ongoing leadership, Senior Community Centers renamed City Heights Square, a multi-story affordable housing complex designed to provide at-risk seniors with the protection and support they deserve, to the Potiker City Heights Residence. This is the second Senior Community Centers housing project funded by the Potiker Family. Sheila and Hughes son, Brian Potiker, spoke at the event on behalf of his family:

“My parents were very aware that many seniors don’t have a safe place to live. They don’t have anyone to watch or care for them, particularly when they’re most vulnerable. This is why this facility was so important to them.”

(From left to right: Lowell Potiker, San Diego County Supervisor Ron Roberts, Jori Potiker, Brian Potiker, SCC President and CEO Paul Downey)

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Potiker City Heights Residence is located at 4065 43^rd Street. The residence consists of 150 affordable studios and one-bedroom apartments between 350 and 500 square feet each. Rent is far below the average high cost for housing in San Diego. Residents receive quality support services that prevent and remove the barriers to independent living, including nutritious breakfast and lunch, activities and socialization opportunities, access to a registered nurse and social service case management.

To learn more about Senior Community Centers’ Affordable Housing Program please visit www.servingseniors.org.

Serving more than Healthy Meals to Seniors

James is a new senior resident at one of downtown San Diego’s single room occupancy hotels. James is new in San Diego and has no family or friends nearby. The small room is equipped with a twin bed and a tiny sink; bathrooms are shared with other hotel residents. Paying for the hotel room to avoid living on the streets is about all that James can afford.

James found out about Senior Community Centers home delivered meals program through other hotel residents and called to sign up as well. Kimberly, one of our home delivered meals drivers, came by the next day with a hot and nutritious lunch as well as breakfast for the next day. On Fridays, our drivers deliver breakfast and lunch for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Unfortunately, James had to decline the meals because he could not store or heat up the food.

Letting one of our clients go hungry for an entire weekend – and many other weekends to follow – is not an option.  Senior Community Centers’ Food Service Director took extra ordinary measures and discovered a small fridge and a microwave in working condition in our limited storage space.

James was very grateful and surprised when Kimberly delivered a fridge and microwave along with fresh meals during her next visit! We sure made his day and are excited to know that James has access to healthy food seven days a week.

Find out more about our Home Delivered Meals Program at www.servingseniors.org.