INDIANAPOLIS — Residents of the German Church Senior Apartments on the east side contacted WRTV with concerns about the new way they will pay rent. The seniors said the switch to the online system is not accessible for most of them.
“They made it so difficult for us,” said Lesley Hall.
Hall is legally blind and one of many seniors in the complex who are disabled or even homebound.
“Usually we could just take our rent to the leasing office and put it in the mailbox or give it to the manager and get a receipt,” Hall said.
On Wednesday, she said the housing association had told residents that paying in person at the office was no longer acceptable.
Instead, they would have to pay online, set up an ACH payment that automatically deducts from their bank account, or use a walk-in payment system at locations such as Western Union, PLS or Walmart.
“Many of us don’t even have a car, many of us don’t have family to help us,” Hall said.
As residents told WRTV, many of them have fixed incomes and the transportation options and ability to pay online would not be a sufficient hindrance to them outside the complex.
“I used to have a computer, but I don’t anymore. My niece or my brother’s wife would have to do it,” said Shirley Jackson, another resident of the complex who is concerned about the new change.
Residents said many of them do not have computers or smartphones and some of them do not know how to use technology.
Residents also told WRTV that the apartment does not yet have a shared computer that can be used to make payments online.
WRTV spoke with the President and CEO of CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions, who offered some advice.
“Check with your financial institution to see if there is some sort of automatic payment system you can set up,” said Tauhric Brown. “I would also suggest seeing if there is a family member, caregiver or family member that you are really close to that you can trust to make those online payments every month.”
Some seniors in the community, like Louise Harris, are computer savvy and plan to help their neighbors as much as they can.
In the meantime, residents WRTV spoke with are calling for more resources for the complex, such as a community computer with training on how to use it, as well as more time before the change goes into effect on Oct. 1..
WRTV has contacted the apartment complex about the change, but we have not yet received a response.
Residents said several meetings are currently being held to discuss the new changes, with the next one scheduled for Monday, August 19.
Local resources for seniors can be found on the CICOA website.
