"Lucky Ticket" Obtained with the Help of BAAHSC— Successful Experience of Applying for Senior Apartments: Sharing Application Experiences from Oakland St, Mary Garden

In this interview with BAAHSC, we spoke with a successful applicant, an elderly woman living alone with adult children. Mrs. Xu and her husband, along with their son, had been living in Milpitas for nearly 16 years, relying on rental housing. As they aged and their children became adults, housing became a significant challenge for the family.

After applying for retirement in 2020, Mrs. Xu’s household income decreased considerably. In July 2023, her husband moved back to China to live alone, leaving her and their son in the U.S. The mother and son struggled to share a rented house with others, facing the inconvenience of sharing bathrooms and kitchens, making it urgent to resolve their housing situation.

After inquiring and discovering that they met the criteria for senior apartment applications, Mrs. Xu and her son began the application process in October 2023. They first found application information for a senior apartment in San Jose online. However, the application requirements were very strict; applicants needed to queue in person to obtain forms. Even after waiting in line and submitting the completed forms, they received no response. Nearly a year later, Mrs. Xu had still not heard anything regarding their application.

While waiting for a reply, Mrs. Xu learned about BAAHSC through a friend, gaining access to a direct online application link for senior apartments. The application process was simple and smooth. Initially, they only needed to fill out basic personal information, and they received a quick response. Just over a month after submitting their application, the first batch of 150 approved applicants was sent to Mrs. Xu’s registered email. Unfortunately, her name was not included.

Unexpectedly, in May 2024, Mrs. Xu received a letter inviting her to call the senior housing office to schedule a meeting that week. The surprise came so suddenly, but thankfully, she had already prepared all necessary application materials based on the information from BAAHSC. When she visited the housing office with her complete personal information, including: 1. current income proof, 2. bank statements from the last three months, and 3. the latest tax forms, everything went smoothly. During the interview, Mrs. Xu filled out the official application form and later provided recommendation forms filled out by her landlord and (former) employer. She explained that since she and her husband filed jointly but only she was applying for residency, she was exempt from submitting her husband’s application materials, which the staff accepted.

Notably, Mrs. Xu's situation was special; typically, senior apartments calculate rent based on 30% of the income of both elderly occupants. However, because her husband was not residing in the U.S., the staff only considered her retirement income.

After accurately reporting her situation, the process went very smoothly with no additional documentation needed. Just 1-2 weeks later, the senior apartment manager conducted a background check on Mrs. Xu. It felt as though she had received a ticket to a lucky express ride, as everything fell into place so easily. In July 2024, Mrs. Xu received a letter asking her to come in to finalize her move-in and lease signing!

Mrs. Xu now lives alone in a comfortable senior apartment, paying only $77 in rent each month, which includes Wi-Fi and water; she only needs to cover the electricity bill. Whenever asked about the information provided by BAAHSC, Mrs. Xu always says, “BAAHSC gave me luck, allowing me the opportunity to learn about and submit my application.” She also hopes that BAAHSC can bring luck to more friends in the Bay Area in need, so everyone can have a safe and happy life!