Sen. Tim Scott (rights managed)
U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Ranking Member Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC). (Credit: Pool / Getty Images)

Policies at all levels of government focused on choice, flexibility and cost-effectiveness are necessary to improve access to affordable senior housing, according to a new report.

“Housing for the Golden Years” from U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging Ranking Member Tim Scott (R-SC) examines how the public and private sectors can address housing challenges for older adults through programmatic and policy changes.

Growing demographic

The growing demographic of older adult heads of households is driving change and opportunity for the private sector, as well as state, local and federal solutions to help older adults in America attain affordable and accessible housing, according to the report. 

By 2050, the number of adults aged 65 or more years in the United States is projected to double. From 2016 to 2019, the number of older renters made up 30% of all renter households at more than 13.2 million, and the number of older homeowners increased by more than 2.5 million.

Having a place to call come, Scott said, is part of the American dream.

“Seniors and people with disabilities comprise more than half of public housing residents today, but accessible units remain far too limited,” he said. “As our senior population increases, we must increase safe and affordable housing options for those in their golden years.”

But gaps exist in senior housing affordability, accessibility and in-home technology, he said.

Almost one-third of older adult households spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Only 10% of the nation’s 115 million housing units provide accessibility for older adults. On the technology side, only 38% of older adults have access to reliable internet or devices.

Older adults and people with disabilities make up 53% of public housing residents, but less than 20% of all subsidized renters live in accessible units, and only 35% live in potentially modifiable units. According to the report, between $35 billion and $70 billion is needed to address public housing’ capital repair backlog. 

The COVID-19 pandemic also brought certain housing needs to light, including social isolation and loneliness. 

Section 202 affordable housing

At the federal level, programs and policies to address housing needs for older adults include Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly under the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Medicaid home modifications, broadband connectivity and taxpayer return on investment for housing assistance, among others.

Almost 350,000 Section 202 housing units exist across the country. The program provides interest-free capital advances to non-profit sponsors to build supportive housing. Rental assistance is provided to bridge the gap between what residents are able to pay and the HUD-approved operation costs.

Since 2011, Congress has funded Section 202 rental subsidies and supportive services for existing units. To help develop more rental units, Congress passed laws allowing the private sector to work to improve the equality and quantity of affordable senior housing.

State and local efforts

The report notes that the private sector is innovating to bring new and tailored senior housing to the market, as well as helping older adults remodel their homes to age in place. 

State and local officials are reducing housing costs and developing programs to help people age in their own communities through regulation reform. 

“The private sector has pioneered critical building and community planning techniques that meet the unique needs of older Americans,” including modifiable homes, community-based building and the use of reclaimed buildings, according to the report. “Likewise, many state and local governments are spearheading regulatory reform and new programs to help expand housing options and affordability for older Americans.”

Those state and local efforts, the report states, help older Americans with better accessibility, healthcare, broadband connectivity, transportation and community living.

Policy reform

The report also calls for reforming federal programs, tax expenditures and other tools supporting rental assistance and home ownership. Such reforms, according to the document, would increase taxpayer return on investment and allow more older adults to attain affordable housing. 

“Policies at all levels of government focused on choice, flexibility and cost-effectiveness will improve access to housing for older Americans and ensure that seniors are able to age comfortably at home,” the report states.