Local Seniors Face Uncertainty as Senior Living Facility Declares Bankruptcy

Tampa Seniors Face Uncertainty as Senior Living Facility Declares Bankruptcy

TAMPA, Fla. — In a shocking turn of events, over 100 senior citizens are now scrambling to find new homes after Unisen Senior Living, their facility located near the University of South Florida, declared bankruptcy. The news has left many residents, some of whom invested hundreds of thousands of dollars, grappling with the reality of eviction.

Jim Powell, 94, and his wife Mona, 91, were among the first to receive eviction notices. Just four months ago, the couple paid a $100,000 entrance fee to move into the facility. “We came home from dinner that night and there was an envelope in our door. We just sat down and looked at each other. I can’t believe this. How could it happen so quickly?” Mona Powell recalled, her voice tinged with disbelief.

The Powells are not alone. All residents of the 491-unit complex are now required to vacate as the facility’s financial troubles, which date back years, have culminated in a bankruptcy filing that reveals debts between $100 million and $500 million. A 2022 IRS Form 990 filed by the non-profit indicated annual losses exceeding $13 million.

“This is just a rotten thing to do to people,” Mona Powell expressed. “They knew it. They can’t say they didn’t know it. They’ve been cooking this up for months.”

Laura Vitale-DeRosa, whose father has lived at Unisen since 2016, echoed the sentiments of many residents. “They were told they were being evicted. The building was closing. Go find someplace else,” she said, highlighting the emotional toll this sudden upheaval has taken on families. Her father, James Vitale, has lost the community he built over the years, as many of his friends are now being dispersed.

The search for new accommodations has proven challenging. Many facilities in the area are either full or charge significantly higher fees than what residents were accustomed to. “Most of these places on this list are two-times at least what we were paying here,” Vitale-DeRosa lamented.

Realtor Lynnette Ramsey is assisting a former client who has no family nearby. “It was a lot of… three hours, four hours yesterday calling around. Can we put a fence up? Can she bring her dog? What’s included in the monthly costs? They were like no, no, and not a lot,” Ramsey shared, illustrating the difficulties faced by those seeking new homes.

Unisen’s executive director declined an interview but stated in a press release, “This decision was not made without a vigorous attempt at keeping the community viable for our residents. Ultimately, it was with their best interests at heart that we made the choice to pursue bankruptcy.”

While some residents, like the Powells, have already found new apartments, others remain uncertain about their future. “When something like this is handed to you, it just kind of turns your world upside down,” Ramsey said.

In a bid to assist residents during this tumultuous time, each will receive a $25,000 moving allowance to help with relocation costs. However, for many, the emotional and logistical challenges of moving at this stage in life are daunting.

As the community grapples with this unexpected upheaval, the hope remains that they will find new homes where they can rebuild their lives and maintain the connections that have been so vital to their well-being.