Cross Sector Collaboration on Aging Policy

Cross Sector Collaboration on Aging Policy

Salin Geevarghese, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International and Philanthropic Innovation.

A recent report from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS), “Housing America’s Older Adults: Meeting the Needs of An Aging Population,” provides in-depth analysis of the trends shaping America’s older population. The report confirms and elaborates on what many already know: the population of Americans aged 50 and older is projected to increase dramatically. At the same time, funding for supportive housing and other assistance targeted at older adults, such as HUD’s Section 202 program, has significantly diminished. This mismatch of policy and evidence is not sustainable. Given the expanding population of older adults coupled with a shrinking pool of resources, a HUD partnership with AARP and other stakeholders offers an opportunity to shape a collective strategy for addressing the needs of our aging society.

The JCHS report presents key findings, including:

• Demographic shift. The population of adults aged 65 and over is projected to soar to 73 million by 2030, an increase of 33 million in just two decades.

• Increased risks. Aging brings increased risks of disability, isolation, and financial stress. Incomes for all household types drop with age, leaving many households with very low incomes, especially those with adults aged 80 and older.
• Affordability of housing. Households owning their homes outright are much less likely to be cost burdened than renters or owners with mortgages. Among households aged 80 and over, 37 percent have at least moderate cost burdens, including 20 percent with severe burdens.
• Housing assistance. Rapid increase in the number of older eligible renters will put even more pressure on housing assistance programs. Currently, just over one-third of eligible households aged 62 and over benefit from rental assistance. Because of the projected growth of this population, JCHS estimates that, just to maintain the current share of eligible renters receiving assistance, the number of older renters receiving assistance would have to rise by 450,000 by 2020 and by 900,000 by 2030.
• Accessible housing. Ninety percent of existing homes have at least one of five universal design elements (no-step entries, extra-wide hallways and doors, lever-style handles and faucets, accessible electrical controls, and single-floor living), but only 57 percent have more than one.
• Community connection. The car-centric nature of many suburbs and rural areas makes it difficult for those who do not or cannot drive to remain active outside of the home. Without cars or nearby transit, many older adults in outlying areas are at risk of isolation.

Not only is America experiencing a demographic shift in older adults, but there is a growing understanding that people in this age group intend to age in different ways than their parents and grandparents did. The report highlights that “even among individuals aged 80 and over, more than three-quarters live in their own homes.” Since the vast majority’s preference is to age in place, it is crucial that HUD and its partners develop innovative approaches that address the unique preferences and needs of this population.

To raise awareness and convene around this issue, HUD co-hosted a Senate staff briefing on May 7 with the AARP Foundation and JCHS. The panel of speakers included our own Katherine O’Regan along with Chris Herbert, managing director of JCHS, and Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president of the AARP Foundation. The event underscored the importance of housing as a platform for financial security, physical security, social connections, and long-term support and services, particularly for vulnerable populations such as older adults.

Taking advantage of the momentum around this burgeoning partnership, a team of colleagues from throughout HUD has worked with the AARP Foundation to design a research memorandum of understanding (MOU). The possible research topics are centered on mutual priorities, such as exploring the benefits of the housing plus services model and investigating the impact of targeted retrofitting of universal design elements. We hope that this research MOU will not only produce evidence to inform HUD’s policies and strategies on aging but also will help AARP and HUD work more efficiently around a shared understanding and framework.

This multifaceted partnership between AARP and HUD is a prime example of how strengthening HUD’s external relationships can be a powerful tool for supporting our mission. HUD and its partners understand that the growing needs of America’s aging population must be addressed with a cross-sector strategy. As we explore how other entities might add value to this work, such as learning from Japan’s experience as a “super-aged society,” HUD has an opportunity to take a leadership role in championing the federal government as a robust and responsive partner to the philanthropic and international communities.