U.S. Sen. Rick Scott was home in Naples and got an earful about ongoing hardships for seniors against rising rents and increasing homelessness as the impact of Hurricane Ian continues.
Inflation and isolation, skyrocketing property insurance, caregiver challenges and no long-term care options for low-income seniors were other issues the Republican senator heard about during an hour-long roundtable meeting Friday at Collier Senior Center-Golden Gate.
Scott, of Naples, who is seeking a second term in November, met with a dozen representatives from social service agencies who spoke about the ground-level work they are doing to provide housing, case management and social service support to local seniors in need.
He serves on the Senate Special Committee on Aging and has held similar roundtable sessions in different communities around the state, according to a spokesman.
A former two-term governor elected to the Senate in 2018, Scott acknowledged everything he was being told about housing and seniors’ struggles. He said the issues are widespread and pointed to rising costs for property and escalating construction costs.