October 7, 2021, Washington, DC— A national aging services leader warned Congress that major cuts to investments in affordable housing would doom millions of older adults to homelessness and poverty.

“Cuts to affordable housing could condemn millions of older Americans to the misery of growing older without a roof over their head, or of choosing between rent, food and medicine each month,” said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO of LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, including affordable housing for low-income older adults.

Media reports indicate that Congressional leaders are considering slashing $300 billion in housing aid proposed by President Biden in reconciliation legislation now being negotiated. More than two dozen Members of Congress urged Congressional leaders this week not to abandon critical investments in America’s affordable housing.

“Older Americans are not disposable bargaining chips,” Sloan added. “They are our relatives, friends and neighbors who will suffer every day and night without a place to call home”

Sloan pointed to a new report from the Department of Housing and Urban Development showing that the number of older adults with “worst case needs” –very low income older adults who pay more than half their incomes for rent, and/or live in housing with serious repair issues — increased by 82% during the last decade.

In a recent LeadingAge survey, 86% of Americans called for increased public investment in housing and support for low-income older adults to address the shortages and waiting lists that lead to homelessness, instability and skipping meals and medicine to pay rent (including 94% of Democrats and 74% of Republicans).

Voices From the Front Lines

LeadingAge providers have recently warned that millions of older Americans and their families real federal support:

•  “Maricopa County is seeing a dramatic increase in the first-time homeless population of people over the age of 55.

  Tom Egan, President and CEO, FSL (Foundation for Senior Living), Phoenix, AZ

• “We do not have sufficient housing for people who live from social security check to social security check. People are living on only $700 a month from social security, and a one bedroom apartment costs $1,800 here. People who don’t have affordable housing are paying 50%-80% of their income to pay rent.”

  Jasmine Borrego, President, TELACU Residential Management, Inc. and TELACU Property Management, Inc., Los Angeles, CA

• “When older adults pay more than 50% of their income on housing costs, they forgo proper food or medicine. Some sleep on their friends’ couches, live in substandard housing, or move in with their children. Waiting lists of affordable housing often last 7 or 8 years. Unfortunately, many will die before we are able to welcome them into our community.”

  Amy Schectman, President and CEO, 2Life Communities, Boston, MA

Background

The Build Back Better proposals include $322 billion for affordable housing programs, including $2.4 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, the agency’s flagship program providing shelter to older adults living on low incomes.

A $2.4 billion injection of new 202 dollars could improve the lives of thousands of older adults by adding 35,564 new Section 202 homes to the current supply, as well as new service coordinators, the linchpin between residents and access to home and community-based services, in these federally assisted communities as well as help for states to ensure residents have access to the services they need to age in community.

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.