[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 40 (Monday, March 10, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S1814]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY

  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about S. 2736, Section 
202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act of 2008 introduced with my 
colleague Senator Charles Schumer. The HUD section 202 Supportive 
Housing for the Elderly Program is the only program that provides 
capital grants to nonprofit community organizations for the development 
of supportive housing and rental assistance exclusively for low-income 
seniors. This program provides supportive services coupled with housing 
to allow seniors to remain safely in their homes and age in place. 
Access to supportive services reduces the occurrence of costly nursing 
home stays and helps save both seniors and the Federal Government 
money.
  There are over 300,000 seniors living in 6,000 section 202 
developments across the country. Unfortunately, the program is far from 
meeting the growing demand. Approximately 730,000 additional senior 
housing units will be needed by 2020 to address the future housing 
needs of low-income seniors. Currently, there are 10 seniors vying for 
each unit that becomes available. This leaves many seniors waiting 
years before finding a home. To complicate matters, we are losing older 
section 202 properties in exchange for high priced condominiums and 
apartments. As a result, many seniors currently participating in the 
program could end up homeless.
  Congress should act now to plan appropriately for the increased 
demand that will exist for housing in the coming years and ensure that 
seniors can find safe, affordable housing. Accordingly, I am pleased to 
join Senator Schumer in introducing the section 202 Supportive Housing 
for the Elderly Act of 2008. Our legislation would help promote the 
construction of new senior housing facilities as well as preserve and 
improve upon existing facilities. The legislation would also support 
the conversion of existing facilities into assisted living facilities 
that provide a wide variety of additional supportive health and social 
services. Under current law, these processes are time consuming, 
bureaucratic, and far too often require waivers and special permission 
from HUD to complete. This legislation also provides priority 
consideration for our homeless seniors seeking a place to call their 
own. With this legislation, we hope to reduce current impediments and 
increase the availability of affordable and supportive housing for our 
nations most vulnerable seniors.
  I want to thank the American Association of Homes and Services for 
the Aging as well as the Wisconsin Association of Homes and Services 
for the Aging for being champions of this legislation and for working 
with us to develop a comprehensive bill that will help meet the growing 
need for senior housing in this Nation.
  Senior citizens deserve to have housing that will help them maintain 
their independence. They do not deserve to end up homeless with no 
where to turn because they are stuck on long waiting lists. This Nation 
must do a better job at helping Americans have a place to call home 
during their golden years. I hope my colleagues will join me in my 
effort to do so.

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