The inclusion of elder housing programs in the Biden-Harris administration’s environmental justice initiative is a positive step toward reversing the effects of injustice and racism on this population’s access to housing, says an expert with LeadingAge.
On Friday, HUD released a list of programs included in the Justice40 Initiative. These include its Section 202 program supporting new units with supportive services for the elderly and rental assistance contract renewals for federally supported elder housing.
The aim of Justice40, a key part of President Joe Biden’s environmental justice agenda, is to direct 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved or overburdened by pollution.
“HUD receives tens of billions in taxpayer money every year. It only makes sense to use some funds to improve all neighborhoods with a specific commitment to invest in pollution-impacted communities,” Linda Couch, VP-housing policy, told McKnight’s Senior Living.
It’s undeniable that “for too many years, environmental racism and injustice have negatively impacted some populations more than others,” Couch told McKnight’s in an email.
“LeadingAge agrees with the goal of reversing some of these impacts by establishing goals, including HUD’s for the Section 202 program, to get federal resources into communities most harmed by pollution to help address the range of injustices,” Couch said.
Signs of commitment
A key sign that HUD is fully committed to this initiative is that the office of HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge employs a senior advisor for climate, Couch added.
“LeadingAge views [this] as a clear and necessary step in the right direction,” she explained. “Not only does the construction and operation of housing have a tremendous impact on climate, one that can be mitigated with policies and tools, but the demographic of those served by HUD’s programs closely mirrors those harmed the most by environmental racism and injustice and whose homes are too often in the path of natural disasters.”
The administration’s initiative is a choice to invest in these communities, she said.
“Justice40 is [HUD Secretary Marcia] Fudge saying, ‘All communities matter, and we’re not going to continue to neglect underserved communities.’”
