Following two years of advocacy from LeadingAge on behalf of affordable senior housing communities, a raft of supportive services for older adults can now be more easily accessed and funded with the publication of Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidance on February 9. HUD’s directions clarify how providers can access the funding, and which activities, from meal services to mental health supports, can be paid for using the HUD-funded supportive services fee of between $15 and $27 per unit per month (PUPM) depending on the property. The additional funding is allocated to HUD Section 202 Project Rental Assistance Contracts (PRAC) under HUD regulations (24 C.F.R. §891.225) and is meant to support independent aging.
“Through HUD’s actions, the lives of more than 130,000 residents of Section 202 PRAC housing, who have average annual household incomes of $14,727, will be improved,” said Linda Couch, Vice President, Housing Policy, LeadingAge. “A ride to a doctor appointment or help with shopping or laundry and access to telehealth can make a big difference in an older adult’s well-being, as can access to grief counseling or fall prevention activities. We’re thrilled to partner with HUD and bring information about this valuable opportunity to our members.”
