[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 68 (Thursday, May 23, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E895]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                ELDERLY HOUSING QUALITY IMPROVEMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN J. LaFALCE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 2002

  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Speaker, today, along with Representative Frank, I 
will be introducing the Elderly Housing Quality Improvement Act of 
2002. The bill is supported by twenty organizations which are members 
of the Elderly Housing Coalition.
  The Elderly Housing Quality Improvement Act is designed to build on 
the progress we made last Congress in expanding affordable housing 
opportunities for senior citizens, providing supportive services for 
frail elderly, and helping seniors age in place and maintain their 
dignity while doing so.
  As our federally assisted housing stock ages, many projects owned by 
non-profits lack the resources for critically needed repairs and 
modernization. Without access to capital, and with no federal program 
designed to provide funds for repair of such projects, we face the 
prospect of significant numbers of low-income seniors living in 
federally assisted housing that will continue to deteriorate in 
physical terms.
  Last Congress, we succeeded in enacting legislation to authorize 
grants to non-profit owned elderly housing projects to make such needed 
repairs. This was authorized under newly created Section 202b of the 
housing code, which also authorized grants for conversion of federally 
assisted elderly housing to assisted living. Unfortunately, Congress 
has only funded the assisted living portion of this program. Therefore, 
Section 2 of the legislation being introduced today authorizes $200 
million a year for each of the next five years under the portion of 
Section 202b which provides for repair grants for non-profit federally 
assisted elderly housing. Funds would be provided under a competition 
based on need.
  Section 3 of the bill addresses the need for affordable assisted 
living, by authorizing capital grants to public housing authorities to 
convert elderly housing units to assisted living. Assisted living 
provides a broad range of supportive services designed to help seniors 
with activities of daily living. Provision of these services allow 
seniors who would otherwise have to move into a nursing home to age in 
place and maintain their independence of living.
  As noted, Congress already provides grants to convert federally 
assisted elderly housing units to assisted living. It makes just as 
much sense to make grants to public housing authorities for the same 
purpose. For larger housing authorities which convert a housing 
development to assisted living, there is the added benefit that seniors 
who live in other housing developments and reach the point where they 
no longer live on their own can move into the assisted living units.
  Another important way that we can promote aging in place in our 
federally assisted and public housing units is through grants to hire 
and maintain services coordinators. Service coordinators link seniors 
with community services which are needed to meet their particular needs 
and maintain independent living. Congress already provides funding for 
service coordinators for public and assisted housing, but funding 
levels are inadequate. Section 4 of the bill would authorize funding to 
renew all expiring service coordinator grants, as well as authorize $50 
million to hire additional service providers in public and assisted 
housing.
  Finally, Section 5 of the bill would create a new pilot program to 
build ``mixed-income'' elderly housing units under the Section 202 
elderly housing program. This would leverage existing federal funding 
for subsidized units with private funding for market-based apartments. 
It would also create economies of scale that make it easier to pay for 
supportive services, as well as expand socialization opportunities for 
the seniors who live in these units.
  As our population ages and as the problem of housing and health care 
affordability becomes more acute for our nation's low-income seniors, 
our policies need to keep pace with these needs. The Elderly Housing 
Quality Improvement Act is an important component of this effort, and I 
urge its enactment.




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