A unique solution to senior housing in Jerusalem

Looking at the socioeconomic status of most Israelis, Judy Labensohn, chairperson of CHI (Co-Housing Israel) – or in Hebrew: Aguda l’diur Mshutaf – says: “There is an urgent need for low-cost long-term community housing, particularly for senior citizens.”

Labensohn and the previous chairman and now external relations representative, David Kurz, explain that this gap in availability led to the founding of CHI. They have been members since 2015.

Their enthusiasm was at a high point as CHI was recently awarded the $10,000 first place Glickman Prize for its work on developing affordable housing solutions for healthy aging in Israel.

The Glickman Prize for Innovation honored CHI’s work at the 2021 Aging Ecosystem Drivers Conference, organized by Aging IL and co-sponsored by Joint/Eshel, Kaveret, Kranot Bituah Leumi, and Ashoka. The conference was attended by close to 300 policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs, technology experts, programmers and social activists engaged in developing innovation technology to improve the quality of life for seniors in Israel.

The prestigious Glickman Prize for innovation was established by Joseph “Chickie” Glickman and is managed today by his daughter, Elaine Galinson. It recognizes initiatives that strive to empower Israeli seniors and improve their quality of life.

“The funds will help defray development costs as the membership continues to grow and we work to change the landscape of affordable senior housing options in Israel today,” explains Labensohn. “We are thrilled that the hard work by seniors to develop housing solutions for seniors is being recognized and supported.”

The mission of Co-Housing Israel is to create affordable senior-only or multi-generational shared housing communities that support the healthy aging of people 50 and above.

Inspired by Israeli innovations in community-building, by new models of urban co-living, and by the growing co-housing movement in Europe and North America, CHI is a registered cooperative and managed by its members working to establish co-housing communities around the country. So what is the background to CHI?

While some seniors prefer to stay in their own homes, especially if they have family in their vicinity, others are more isolated and are looking for alternative options. CHI’s intention is to share updates about housing policy relevant to creating shared communities and to assist their establishment.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought home to many older Israelis the problems of isolation and CHI have held several meetings on-line this year to demonstrate the benefits of living in a community, sharing meals and holiday celebrations while at the same time preserving privacy in their own apartments.

CHI is a member-driven community, a pluralistic, environmentally conscious and socially engaged group of Israelis, a co-operative under Israeli law. 

Membership is open to over-50s, people who are independent and active, so the social activities are very diverse with such a mixture of ages.

Labensohn made aliyah from Cleveland, Ohio and is a social worker, writer and poet. Kurz, who hails from Los Angeles, is a licensed life-coach and social worker with a focus on community organizations.

“It started when four couples were discussing healthy aging,” says Labensohn, ”and the idea of active co-housing self-run projects for people who are not necessarily retired but want a secure social environment. There is a need for long-term rentals so that residents can continue to live there until their older years as long as they are active and independent.”

The membership process is democratic with formal and informal meetings, all current members having equal rights in decision-making.

“Although the community housing is attractive for immigrants, especially those without family, it is not a mercaz klita,” says Kurz. “There is then the ‘Catch-22’ situation of matching groups to sites.” 

The applications have been from a wide spectrum of Hebrew-speaking Israelis, more established Anglo and other immigrants and those who live in remote areas and seek the companionship and convenience of living in urban areas. As people get older many seek access to public transport, shops, clinics as well as accessibility to family.

Labensohn and Kurz say that government institutions and developers want assurance that there is a group ready to create a project, while members want the reassurance that a site is available.

“In Haifa for example, we are looking at several sites,” Kurz says. “We can either renovate old buildings provided they have local facilities, or build on empty plots. We need sufficient apartments, communal space within the building and outside space for recreation.

“There is an existing program in the framework of Dira l’Haskir, a company created by the Shikun u’Binui Department of the Housing Ministry,created initially to enable young couples and young families who cannot afford to purchase apartments to rent in a stable environment, that is, knowing that the rent will not jump up every few years. 

“These tenants are secure that they don’t need to move as long as they keep to the conditions of the contract. Each site has different constrictions. Some are only for five years and some can be renewed every five years for up to 20 years. 

“Now recognizing the needs of seniors, we want the policy to change so that if we move into a Dira l’Haskir building, we will not have to move after 20 years, when we could be 90. Dira l’Haskir manages Halomot Arnona, for example, the first of our projects that has been finished with our Jerusalem members already living there.”

This pilot project already established is in Jerusalem, where Co-Housing Israel’s Jerusalem group is currently marking a year in the Halomot Arnona longterm rental project. In spite of the pandemic, several residents moved into the complex during the summer and were already enjoying socially-distanced gatherings in an outdoor setting.

Idele Ross, a journalist and former broadcaster for Israel Radio’s English News, is a committee member and was one of the pioneers of the Jerusalem CHI project.  

Batya Malichi joined CHI in 2015 and has been on the Board since 2019. 

“My involvement is Site and Design, together with members in the area, looking for sites and searching for municipal partners. There is no upper age,” says Malichi, “but members need to be healthy and active.” 

While prospective members are making their decision and meeting on Zoom, we have a buddy system so that they can learn about the experiences of those who have already gone ahead.

“We are optimistic that the government is waking up to the fact that there is an urgent need for long-term low-cost senior communities. Only 5% can afford the luxury sheltered housing complexes and only 5% are eligible for social housing so that leaves 90% with very few options,” says Ross. “There is first the challenge of forming a group parallel with finding a project and funding it. In Jerusalem it was fits and starts. We looked at abandoned buildings for conversion. Developers were enthusiastic but we needed sufficient people. A few of us had known each other over the last few years through CHI. Halomot Arnona were then building a long-term rental project in an empty field and they were very co-operative. 

“We had specific needs: a central location with access to public transport and community facilities to build apartments around a courtyard with indoor communal space for activities.”

The feedback is already positive among the singles and couples who have moved into CHI Halumot. Within the restrictions of the pandemic they have managed to meet together, enjoyed Yoga-at-Sunset outside and other activities. 

“It’s so exciting to live with such wonderful people. This is our dream come true!” was one comment from a happy resident. Introductory meetings by Zoom are being organized in several parts of the country.