Under an uncommon program designed to meet the needs of the aging labor union population, a Michigan-based senior living provider now is offering a new discount for union members who rent units in their senior housing communities.
American House Senior Living Communities has announced a new program called the Backbone of America. Under the program, union members from the automobile industry and building trades who rent at one of their senior living communities will get a 10% discount off their housing rental costs.
Jeff Floyd, president of American House, said the discount will be offered to new residents moving into their communities who are older adults and have been members of the United Auto Workers or the North America’s Building Trade Unions.
Floyd noted that almost half of the organization’s more than 60 senior living communities are located in Michigan, which has a large union population, many of whom are at or nearing retirement age.
“We thought that it made a lot of sense to offer this benefit to union members, because they’re the ones who built America,” Floyd said.
Floyd said that although the pilot discount program was started for union members from the automobile industry and building trades, it may be expanded to include members of other unions in the future.
“We offer a similar discount to veterans,” he said. “We just want to expand it to another group that has made a huge difference to their country.”
The discount will be offered at any of American House’s communities, which in addition to Michigan are located in Florida, Illinois, New Hampshire, Ohio and Tennessee. The company offers independent living, assisting living, memory care and other options at its properties.
Floyd said he knows of many senior living providers that offer rental discounts for veterans, but he believes his organization’s discount for union members is unique.
“I do not know any other senior living community that offers a discount to union members. I’ve been in the industry for almost 40 years, and none of the others have offered a discount like this to union members,” he said.
