The Senate Special Committee on Aging held  “Laying the Foundation: Housing Accessibility and Affordability for Older Adults and People with Disabilities” hearing on July 20.  Senators from both sides of the aisle discussed the need for more affordable housing, while expert witnesses shared strategies for improving accessibility.

In particular, witnesses shared that low-cost adjustments to buildings during the development phase can save funding late and make the building accessible for more people. Roughly 26% of Americans have a disability, but less than 5% of the national housing supply is accessible, with less than 1% of housing stock accessible to wheelchair users.

LeadingAge is currently working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to update accessibility protections and improve feasibility for housing providers.