March 9, 2023 Washington, DC — Statement from Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, on the White House FY2024 Budget Proposal, released today: 

“America’s population is aging, rapidly. More people will need services – from care in their own homes and in residential settings, to community supports like affordable housing for low-income older adults. The federal government, for the first time in decades, is committed to meaningful action to ensure America’s older adults and families can get the help they need. We’re encouraged that the President’s public statements of support for older adults and families are reflected in the numbers released today.

From funding to increase the number of affordable senior homes, including those in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s flagship 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program, to support that will expand Medicaid home and community-based services, with money targeted to address direct care jobs, the budget provides sorely needed resources. 

Yet, at the same time, the experience of our nonprofit, mission driven members, who serve older adults and families in a range of care settings and communities, bears out the truth: demand for services in all communities and care settings is growing. We share President Biden’s goal of ensuring quality care wherever older adults call home. Funding is needed across the continuum. We hope we will find that addressed as more details emerge.” 

BUDGET EXCERPTS:

• $7.5 billion for new Project-Based Rental Assistance contracts with private owners to provide affordable housing to households with extremely low incomes. These would be the first new PBRA contracts in 40 years or so.
• Funding for 2,200 new homes for older adult households (via Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly) and for persons with disabilities (via the Section 811), combined.
• Funding for 50,000 new Housing Choice Vouchers and the use of HUD reserves for another 130,000 households. Today, 30% of voucher-assisted households are older adults.

• $150 billion over 10 years for Medicaid HCBS – with $150 Million to improve the quality of jobs for home care workers and support family caregivers.    

We represent more than 5,000 nonprofit aging services providers and other mission-minded organizations that touch millions of lives every day. Alongside our members and 38 state partners, we use applied research, advocacy, education, and community-building to make America a better place to grow old. Our membership, which now includes the providers of the Visiting Nurse Associations of America, encompasses the continuum of services for people as they age, including those with disabilities. We bring together the most inventive minds in the field to lead and innovate solutions that support older adults wherever they call home. For more information visit leadingage.org.