Affordable senior housing bill moving forward

Legislation is moving forward in congress that is aimed at increasing the amount low-cost housing available to older adults. SeniorJournal.com reports that Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly, part of a program of Housing and Urban Development, is headed for expansion and improvement.


Democratic Senator Herb Kohl, who is chairman of the Special Committee on Aging,recently announced that the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development approved the bill.


The legislation is hoping to combat the elderly housing shortage through a number of means, including making it easier for owners to make health and assisted living services more available to residences through service-enriched housing.

In addition, the bill will encourage the construction of new housing facilities and strive to improve upon the already existing ones.


"Access to these types of services saves both seniors and the government money because they reduce the need for costly nursing home stays," Sen. Kohl said in a statement.


The American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging reports that there are currently 300,000 seniors living in section 202 units throughout the United States.


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