New Updates on The Edge

Message from PD&R Leadership:
Current Thinking About Aging in Place
In April 2017, the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University held a webinar focused on aging in place. Drawing on information from the webinar and an associated report published by the Joint Center, director of PD&R’s Research Utilization Division Rachelle Levitt highlights the trends that are expected to exacerbate the affordability and housing supply problems facing the 65+ population, and she discusses state programs designed to support aging in place, such as Vermont’s Support and Services at Home (SASH) initiative.

Trending:
Assisted Housing as a Platform to Improve Quality of Life
As a critical first step towards better understanding the health challenges of HUD-assisted adults, HUD recently conducted a study examining the health of HUD-assisted adults, unassisted low-income renting adults, and the general adult population. The resulting report, A Health Picture of HUD-Assisted Adults, 2006–2012, finds that HUD-assisted renters have a high incidence of chronic conditions, but they also receive public health insurance and visit their primary care physicians more often than the other two groups. Yet HUD-assisted adults and unassisted low-income renters have higher rates of unmet care than the general adult population. The report suggests HUD housing could offer more fitness and nutrition programming to counteract the high rates of obesity among HUD-assisted adults.

In Practice:
The Courtyard Offers Stability and Opportunity for Fort Wayne Youth Aging Out of Foster Care
In 2014, the Courtyard opened as the first supportive housing development in Indiana serving young adults aged 18 to 25 who earn less than 60 percent of the area median income and are aging out of foster care, or are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Located in Fort Wayne, the development provides residents, many of whom have experienced trauma, with safe housing and access to an array of social services. In addition, Courtyard residents are empowered to play an active role in its operations through a tenant council.

Research:
Evaluating Community Development Efforts Through the Rural Innovation Fund
Congress authorized HUD to administer the Rural Innovation Fund (RIF), a competitive grant program to improve housing stock and spur economic development in rural communities with high poverty and unemployment rates, in 2010. RIF was funded for only one year, and it succeeded the similar Rural Housing and Economic Development (RHED) program but offered larger grant amounts. A report recently released by HUD, Evaluation of the Rural Innovation Fund, finds that the larger RIF grants did not appear to generate economies of scale.

Please send your comments and suggestions to editor@huduser.gov.