KUOW radio aired a three-part series on aging in late April that featured Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens intern (and jobseeker) Katherine Kirsch in the story “Work: The New Retirement Plan.” A story on affordable housing for seniors, “A Quiet Crisis,” refers to the Seattle Human Services Department’s Aging & Disability Services (ADS) division projections that the number of seniors living in poverty will double by the year 2025. A third story, “Who’s Caring For The Caregiver?”, discusses services to help caregivers cope with stress. KUOW reporter Ruby de Luna worked closely with ADS staff on these stories.
Save water, money with high-efficiency toilets
The Seattle Human Services Department’s Mayor’s Office for Senior Citizens is collaborating with Seattle Public Utilities and Senior Services’ Minor Home Repair program to provide low-income homeowners with free toilets. Toilets offered by Seattle Public Utilities flush well, help conserve water, and save homeowners money. According to Seattle Public Utilities, replacement of older toilets with high-efficiency models can save a family of four up to 24,000 gallons of water and $140 each year.
If you meet the following criteria and income guidelines, you can qualify for free toilets and installation by a licensed professional plumber:
- You are a homeowner of any age with a Seattle Public Utilities account.
- You currently live in the home you own.
- Your existing toilets were manufactured before 1994.
- You meet income guidelines for your household size (examples below).
| Household Size | Annual Income | Monthly Income |
| 1 | $ 28,560 | $ 2,380 |
| 2 | $ 37,344 | $ 3,112 |
| 3 | $ 46,140 | $ 3,845 |
| 4 | $ 54,924 | $ 4,577 |
| 5 | $ 63,708 | $ 5,309 |
| 6 | $ 72,492 | $ 6,041 |
To sign up or get more information, contact Minor Home Repair at 206-448-5751 (TTY 206-448-5025) or e-mail UDP@seattle.gov.
