SUN CITY – When the first active-adult community opened in Arizona in 1960, a new housing concept was born. The facilities were offered exclusively to persons aged 55 years and over. Many of them, like Sun City in Huntley, provided activities and services specifically designed for seniors.
Through the years since, all communities that desire to be “55-and-over” must apply for the age exemption and maintain it over time. In 1995, the U.S. Congress approved a law known as HOPA, Homes for Older Persons Act. Now administered by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, the act creates standards and procedures for how communities can maintain their status as a 55-and-older community. At least 80 percent of the units must be occupied by at least one person who is 55 years of age or older. Compliance with the 80 percent standard is measured by occupancy, not ownership.
However, if the number of people age 55+ falls below that 80 percent threshold, the community could lose its age-restricted status. The loss of such status would be permanent.
The act requires communities to prove periodically that it meets or exceeds this standard, usually by means of a census of all residents. Such a census will take place in Sun City this year, probably this spring. It will involve all residents filling out a census form.
“We haven’t determined exactly how we will do it yet,” said Executive Director Lauren Lee. “We are exploring options that include, among other things, putting the census documents in Lifestyles Magazine or mailing them to residents. We are talking to neighborhood reps about it. The census also requires residents to submit a proof-of-age ID such as a driver’s license, passport, birth certificate, or military or government ID, so we have to figure out how we’ll do that.
“This census requires a response from 100% of the occupants of our households,” she said. “This is a big challenge. We have to publicize this heavily to the entire community and persuade everyone that this is important. We need lots of grass-roots publicity in neighborhoods.
“When a home is sold here, we notify all area lenders and mortgage companies that we are an age-limited, 55-and-over community,” Lee said. “If we do not meet the government standard of 55 or over, we could lose our age-qualified status. That would mean our community would be opened up to younger families.”
