Urge your senators and representatives to protect and preserve affordable senior housing and ensure the employment of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) staff necessary to administer critical programs.
At Risk: HUD Staff and Funding for Critical Programs
Take action today to urge your senators and representatives to protect and preserve affordable senior housing and ensure the employment of agency staff needed to administer crucial housing programs for low-income older adults.
Today, threats face affordable senior housing providers on three fronts:
- The White House Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) and HUD's plans to cut 50% of HUD’s workforce–including the closure of some field offices and dismantling of affordable housing program administration—now underway. Congress must hear from nonprofit providers of affordable housing who rely on the help of HUD employees to carry out their mission. Large, swift reductions in HUD staff will effectively make the administration of housing programs impossible.
- Congress is working to finalize HUD’s fiscal year 2025 funding bill. The cost of operating and maintaining housing rises annually; Congress must hear from providers that funding at 2024 levels is inadequate and will lead to funding shortfalls for rental assistance contracts across the country.
- HUD is delaying disbursement of Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program awards announced January 15 that address rising homelessness among older adults by creating new, affordable, service-enriched homes. At the same time, existing Green and Resilient Retrofit Program (GRRP) funding, used to preserve affordable housing in climate-vulnerable areas, is at risk of being revoked, even for projects already underway. Congress must hear from housing providers that these congressionally approved and legally obligated funds must be dispersed without further delay.
We urge you to add your personal message to your elected officials. Share a profile of your affordable senior housing community: include its location, the number of residents you serve, the length of your waiting list, the impact of your service coordination program on residents, and your role in addressing the affordable housing shortage for older adults.