How Changes at HUD Will Affect America's Seniors

As the baby boomer generation heads into retirement, the number of older Americans is increasing. In 2020, about 55.8 million people, or one in six, were aged 65 or over.

A report from the Urban Institute sheds light on how cuts to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) could impact this age group.
 

The Challenge with Housing for Seniors

As America grows older, finding suitable housing for seniors, especially those with lower incomes, has become difficult. Very few elderly people who need help with housing actually get it.

Now, with the government planning to reduce HUD's workforce by half, close some field offices, and cut program funding, older people might find it even harder to get the housing support they need.

These changes could make it tough to run housing programs effectively, though it's not yet clear how each program will be affected.
 

The Risk of Cuts to Services

Reducing services could mean more older adults face homelessness, illness, or even early death because they can't get the help they need to live independently.

Local and state governments might have to step up to ensure that elderly and disabled people have access to affordable housing that meets their needs.
 

A Decade of Increasing HUD Support for Seniors

HUD has been working to improve housing assistance for the elderly. Through programs like Moving to Work, public housing agencies (PHAs) have been innovating and using flexible funding to help seniors.

Some PHAs have even renovated homes and organized services specially for older residents. In some states, half or nearly half of all households getting HUD help are those with senior members.

But it's not just about finding a place to live. In half of these senior households, there's someone with a disability, and HUD's Service Coordinator Program has been crucial for their support.

Without HUD funds, these individuals might not get the care they need, putting more strain on emergency services and possibly leading to poorer health outcomes and more institutionalization.
 

Elderly Households and HUD Assistance

Several HUD programs serve older households, including:
 

• Housing choice vouchers, helping about 800,000 senior households rent homes in the private market.
• Project-based vouchers, providing rental assistance to about 650,000 senior households for specific buildings or units.
• Public housing, offering affordable rental homes to about 650,000 senior households.
• The Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, helping around 120,000 households, which is about 6.3% of seniors receiving HUD assistance.

Read more: Understanding Rental Assistance: A Comprehensive Guide
 

The Impact of Proposed HUD Cuts

The suggested cuts at HUD are part of wider challenges within the system that supports low-income seniors. Other programs aimed at helping these individuals, run by different government departments, are also facing cuts.

This is happening at a time when seniors and disabled people are already struggling to access the housing and resources they need.

As HUD prepares to make cuts, local and state officials may have to find new and creative ways to ensure older and disabled people can find affordable, suitable housing.

For a deeper dive into this topic, further reading is recommended.

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