HOUSTON—The MD Anderson Senior Center in the East End has been like a big happy family for more than 25 years.
“We love each other like a family and I think it’s very hard for us, at our age to get out,” said Josephine Ybarra.
Neighborhood Centers runs the program, and its spokesperson says the seniors have to move because the building isn’t safe.
“We sent our facilities department out here to do inspections and they did find some extensive repairs that needed to be done, including a leaky roof, faulty wiring and the heating system is in need of repair,” said Neighborhood Centers Spokesperson Alicia Alaniz.
Neighborhood Centers does not own the building, officials said.
The seniors have been told the center will close on December 31, 2009. Most of them have been attending the activities and eating lunch at the center for decades, but come next year they will have to attend the Magnolia Multi-Service Center on Capitol Street in east Houston.
“It hurts, it hurts a lot,” said senior citizen Susie Hernandez.
Houston City Councilmember James Rodriguez, Harris County Precinct 6 Constable Victor Trevino, State Representative Ana Hernandez, Senator Mario Gallegos and other local leaders have created a task force to help seniors find a solution.
“Our goal is to keep the seniors here and to keep the program going. It is historical and many of our seniors live in this neighborhood, so it’s hard for them to get to another facility,” said Rodriguez.
The task force has requested a formal inspection of the building, and its members are brainstorming ways to pay for the repairs.
“We all think about each other. And we love each other just like a family,” said Ybarra.
For now, the seniors are trying to make the most of the time they have left at the MD Anderson Senior Center in the East End.
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