SAN DIEGO — As people continue to live longer, the need for assisted living is inevitable — but having quality care is expensive. That's where the nonprofit SHORE steps in to help.
SHORE stands for Senior Housing Relief for Elders.
"I'm going to be 99 on September 11th," Melvin Schlamm said. He is a father of three and was married to his wife Renee for 76 years. "We had a beautiful life," he added.
He owned a factory in Puerto Rico and is a decorated World War II Veteran.
"I was a forward artillery with the Navy," he said.
"Melvin is the last San Diegan to land on the beaches of Normandy, which is amazing — he is very proud of his military career," Catt Babinski said, who works at Torrey Pines Bayshire.
Melvin Schlamm is now living out his days there.
"They treat me nicely, the food is very good," Schlamm said. But, he said, it's not cheap — Renee's need for 24-hour care depleted their savings, including a reverse mortgage, and he said getting VA Aid has been slow.
"I could use the help, I've applied for the retirement pension, three years ago — all I keep getting back is more paperwork to fill out," Schlamm said. That's where SHORE steps in, to improve access to quality housing.
"Some people may have planned well, but they still need to sell things first," Babinski said.
The nonprofit Senior Housing Relief for Elders has already helped cover four grand for Mr. Schlamm.
"There's a group of this private pay family where they don't have a ton of money in the bank — but they aren't low income to get access to federal and state programs, so how do we help that population?" said Jennifer Reed, the Executive Director of SHORE.
Just since their start in 2022, SHORE has helped 50 families across the nation by giving out $60,000 in grant money. Funding initially came only from the Founder and CEO, Sue Farrow, from Carlsbad – but now, SHORE has grown significantly and relies on generous donors.
"It's a pretty minimal application process, we don't want to have barriers — so we process it pretty quickly and work with the communities, to get them moved in," Reed added.
The move for Melvin has provided a safer and more social environment that could very likely extend his life well into 100.
WATCH RELATED: San Diego nonprofit helps those with development disabilities achieve independence