call to action: time to move forward on affordable housing

Call to Action: Time to Move Forward on Affordable Senior Housing

An Intervention to Increase Public Savings and Improve Seniors’ Stability

January 20, 2015 By


INTRODUCTIONAffordable housing remains a challenge for New Yorkers living in a city with a stubbornly low housing vacancy rate, a dwindling stock of affordable units and ever rising rents. For older adults, the lack of availability and affordability of housing is a worsening crisis.

2

To date, piecemeal solutions have addressed housing affordability issues for seniors.

The Aging TsunamiBy 2030, NYC’s 60+ population will increase to 1.84 million, a 47% increase from 2000.

High Rent Burden2 in 3 New Yorkers age 70+ pay more than 30% of their income on rent.

Low Income1 in 5 older New Yorkers live in poverty.

Evolving Healthcare Needs37% of non-institutionalized elders reported some level of disability.


BACKGROUNDThe City’s current housing assistance programs available to seniors fall into the following categories:

3

Demand for public housing remains strong with 170,000 families on the waitlist,

which nearly equals NYCHA’s 175,000 public housing units.


BACKGROUND

•6% - Percentage of the 165,000 affordable housing units developed and preserved from 2002-2013 dedicated to senior housing.

•300 – Average number of new senior units developed annually utilizing financing made available through the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development and NYC Housing Development Corporation

•17,300 – Number of new and preserved units in 2014, cited by the DeBlasio administration,

to be counted towards their 200,000 10- year goal.

•133,000 – Number of city rental units that have gone market rate over the last 20 years (according to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board)

4


OPPORTUNITIES

5

Addressing IsolationIn a congregate housing model, tenant independence is maintained but social connections are fostered through well-designed communal space and structured social opportunities.

Safety and SecurityToo many seniors in New York City lack an accessible, safe and secure living environment, which senior housing can provide.

Improved Physical and Mental Health OutcomesSenior housing can provide linkages with health providers and offer an efficient platform for assessing the health status of a large number of high-risk individuals

Cost SavingsSome emergency healthcare costs can be more efficiently addressed through managed care and outpatient services. A recent report found that homeless or institutionalized people placed into NY/NY III supportive housing saved Medicaid a net average of $10,100 per person per year


SOLUTIONSCSCS seeks investment and policy improvements in a comprehensive senior housing plan to address the challenges facing older adults and senior housing developers while leveraging public resources to maximize social and economic benefits. The three-part plan will improve:

1) Production 2) Preservation 3) Regulation of affordable housing for older New Yorkers.

6

By retooling existing programs and additional investment in select programs, the City can serve

at least 100,000 seniors, laying the groundwork to meet the housing needs of NYC’s growing elderly population.


1) PRODUCTION

• Establish Senior Housing + Services Program

• Double HPD Production of Senior Housing (3,000 to 6,000 units)

• HPD/HDC New Construction Set-Asides and Senior Housing Preservation

• Guarantee inclusionary housing for seniors

• Prioritize senior housing on City-owned sites that are RFP’d for development

7


2) PRESERVATION - REFORM SCRIE•Increase subscription by at least 50% to aid 75,000 households annually.

•Limit rent burden to 30% of a tenant’s gross income as per federal affordability standards.

•Launch SCRIE Outreach Program to raise awareness.

•Help seniors facing eviction due to nonpayment of rent by reforming the program to offer landlords a tax rebate for back payment of rent.

•Amend city and state policies regarding the recertification process to ensure seniors are not deemed ineligible for missing the recertification deadline.

8


3) REGULATION

•Adopt Citizens and Housing Planning Council’s “Making Room” recommendations - To address the way New Yorkers are living today

•Incorporate Universal Design principles – Targeting Fall Prevention

•Enhance senior housing bonus – Incentivize developers

•Eliminate parking requirements – CSCS Section 202 Parking Lot Survey

9


CALL TO ACTION

Making New York a more affordable and equitable city can only be achieved through an intergovernmental strategy that seeks to identify key areas of overlap where stakeholders can come together, build on past successes, and put into practice one of the best prescriptions for any vulnerable senior – a safe place to call home.

10

call to action: time to move forward on affordable housing

Real Estate