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Accessible, Affordable Housing

In order to live stably in the community, many older adults, people with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness need assistance to obtain accessible, affordable housing. Many also need help connecting to supportive services, such as personal care assistance, transportation, behavioral health services, and similar services. There are a number of organizations and networks working to address these needs. These include:

  • Public housing authorities and other housing providers
  • Homelessness service networks
  • Aging and disability networks
  • Health care systems
  • Tribal organizations
  • Behavioral health systems

Partnerships between these networks to more holistically address housing issues and needs for supportive services could greatly expand the range of housing options, streamline access to the programs that help people secure both housing and services, and ultimately increase opportunities for older adults and people with disabilities to live in the community.

Explore New (or Recently Modified) Programs 

The links below provide information about some new, or recently modified, programs available through each of the networks. By learning about these programs, you can begin to identify opportunities to collaborate with other sectors to help people stay in or return to housing in the community. Attention to a full range of housing types is necessary to address inequities and enable full participation in the community.

  • Emergency Housing Vouchers— Program through which public housing authorities are administering 70,000 new vouchers to subsidize rent for people in situations related to homelessness
  • Homeowners Assistance Fund— Through this program, states, tribes or tribal entities, and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands are able to offer assistance to prevent mortgage delinquencies and defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacement of homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 21, 2020. The money for the program is limited. The program is scheduled to end September 2026 or when the money has been used up, whichever comes first.
  • Mainstream Housing Vouchers— Program through which housing agencies can subsidize rent for people with disabilities who are younger than 62
  • Money Follows the Person— Program through which states can provide Medicaid beneficiaries who choose to move from nursing homes to housing in the community with the services they need for independent living
  • Programs To Keep Older Adults Connected to Energy and Utility Services— Recorded training on federal utility assistance programs, including Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, and the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program
  • Temporary Increases to the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage— Website about opportunities for state health officials to access temporarily increased federal funding for home and community-based services for Medicaid beneficiaries
  • The HOME Investment Partnerships American Rescue Plan Program— Program funding for participating jurisdictions to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability

Solutions and Core Knowledge for Affordable Housing

Housing is the centerpiece of an individual’s personal life across their lifespan and a cornerstone to living independently. Accessible, affordable housing for people with disabilities, older adults, and people experiencing homelessness is vital to supporting overall well-being. Multi-sector partnerships can leverage resources to expand housing options, especially for populations that have disproportionately high rates of housing instability and homelessness.

Accessible Housing: Core Knowledge and Solutions

Accessible housing is housing that people with disabilities can easily enter and use. Accessible housing has features people may need to live independently, like wider doorways, clear floor space for wheelchairs to move throughout the home, low countertops, assistive technology,  and grab bars in bathrooms. Housing can be built or modified for accessibility, which would enhance housing stability, prevent falls, and enable community participation for people with disabilities and older adults.

The links below provide information about accessible housing. Some build core knowledge about this topic, and other have programs and best practices to improve accessibility. You can use this information to identify opportunities to collaborate with other sectors to help people stay in or return to housing in the community.

Also visit the supportive services page for information about transportation and other topics related to community accessibility.

Affordable Housing: Core Knowledge and Solutions

The links below provide information about affordable housing. Some items build core knowledge about this topic, and other items have programs and best practices to enhance access to affordable housing options for people with disabilities and older adults. You can use this information to identify opportunities to collaborate with other sectors to help people stay in or return to housing in the community.

 


Last modified on 01/13/2025


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