How Senior Housing Programs Help Modest Income Seniors

On May 15, the Washington Post published an article on the HOME program from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) decrying wasted dollars and delays in spending allocations to cities and states across the country. The article focused on the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, but the topic has implications for the entire country.

We are concerned that the story will erode public support for HUD programs in general and make the department’s programs, including Section 202 and 811, a target for future funding cuts. This would be a shame, as these programs actually do a lot to help seniors. 

Here is our point of view:

• LeadingAge members have a long tradition of prudent investment of HUD funding to provide excellent senior housing and a track record of performance that contributes to neighborhoods throughout the country.
• HUD housing programs provide extremely low and very low income households with safe, decent, affordable housing. The average income of a senior residing in Section 202 housing is little more than $10,000.
• Over 50% of the residents of all HUD assisted housing programs are seniors and persons with disabilities.   
• HUD estimates that the Section 202 program funds 80% of the development cost and sponsors frequently use programs such as the HOME program to fill funding gaps. There are more than 400,000 units of Section 202 housing in more than 6,000 properties across the country and still on average 10 seniors wait for each unit that becomes available.  
• Our members provide housing to seniors, including many who are homeless and veterans. National Church Residences, Retirement Housing Foundation, Elderly Housing Development and Operations Corporation, and Presbyterian Villages of Michigan are not only opening new developments regularly, but helping to improve blighted urban areas at the same time. They are a few of the many examples of how LeadingAge members serve seniors and transform communities.

We will be working hard to tell this side of the story to do our part to ensure that HUD-sponsored senior housing programs grow. We hope our members will do the same with their legislators as HUD's budget moves through Congress.