Third Congressional District candidate Jon Kaiman said Tuesday he wanted to take a program that benefits senior citizens in the Town of North Hempstead and expand it into a national program if elected to Congress.
Speaking at a press conference at the Great Neck Social Center, Kaiman introduced his plans for “Project Independence America,” an initiative that takes North Hempstead’s “Project Independence” and expands it on a national scale.
“I’m running for United States Congress, from this district, so that I can bring programs like Project Independence to my district beyond North Hempstead’s borders, but also the entire country,” he said.
Project Independence is a program intended to help seniors remain in their homes as long as possible by providing them transportation and home services.
Kaiman developed the project in 2008, while he served as North Hempstead Town Supervisor, to provide services to seniors through partnerships with government, service providers, businesses and the local community.
By dialing 311, a resident can reach a Project Independence staffer, who will help find answers to a particular question, track down information or get the person connected to services such as health screenings, immunizations and information about managing medications.
The program also offers caregiver support, social and recreational activities, support groups for those coping with illness, depression or loss, as well as volunteer opportunities.
Kaiman said what was done in North Hempstead was a “model” for helping senior citizens.
“The whole idea behind Project Independence is to help our seniors age in place,” he said. “To live in your homes longer, to get the services that exist, bring them to your door, create an opportunity to have all the resources that exist for you but yet might not be easily accessible.”
Prior to Project Independence’s inception, Kaiman said seniors would rely on Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities, or NORC, programs for aid and services.
Certain communities qualify for NORC programs based on census tracking of high densities of senior citizens.
“In North Hempstead, we decided that wasn’t enough,” Kaiman said. “It wasn’t just about the census track, it was about the entire community.”
He said that all senior citizens should have access to the services they need and not just those who live in a NORC community.
“I, now, am proposing that we create Project Independence America, where communities throughout the country can use these same ideas, not just the NORC concept, which is a wonderful concept,” Kaiman said. “But Project Independence, where entire communities can get these resources regardless of what your census track had in terms of concentration of seniors.”
Kaiman said he wanted the federal government to set aside at least $10 million for communities to apply for Project Independence America grants.
He is one of five Democratic candidates seeking the nomination to run for outgoing U.S. Rep. Steve Israel’s Third Congressional District seat.
Kaiman is joined in the race by Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Anna Kaplan, Suffolk County Legislator Steve Stern, former Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and Levittown attorney Jonathan Clarke.
