Some of the nation’s largest providers of affordable senior housing, as well as associations representing aging services providers, were among the 600 organizations sending a letter to the moderators of the next presidential debate — ABC and Univision’s George Stephanopoulos, David Muir, Linsey Davis and Jorge Ramos — urging them to ask the candidates how they would address the affordable housing shortage in the United States.
The Democratic debate is scheduled to take place Thursday in Houstin.
So far, 11 presidential candidates have released affordable housing-related plans or proposals, and additional candidates are expected to release plans, according to the letter.
“But during the first two rounds of presidential debates, debate moderators have neglected to directly ask candidates how they would address our nation’s housing affordability crisis,” it stated.
A recent national public opinion poll commissioned by National Low Income Housing Coalition found that 85% of voters believe that having safe, accessible and affordable housing should be a top national priority, and 80% want “major action” from Congress and the White House, NLIHC said.
Among those signing the letter:
- National Church Residences, the No. 1 not-for-profit provider of affordable senior housing, according to the 2018 LeadingAge Ziegler 200.
- Volunteers of America, No. 3 on that LZ 200 list.
- Mercy Housing, No. 4 on that LZ 200 list.
- Christian Church Homes, No. 5 on that LZ 200 list.
- Embrace Living Communities, which topped Fortune’s list of small and medium-sized organizations on the 2019 list of Best Workplaces for Aging Services and has the No. 18 spot on the aforementioned LZ 200 list.
Additional organizations signing the letter:
- LeadingAge California
- Leading Age Maine & New Hampshire
- Episcopal Homes of Minnesota
- Village at Saint Peter’s Senior Housing
- SAGE Raleigh LGBT Senior Housing Initiative
- Arlington Retirement Housing Corporation – Culpepper Garden
Read the letter and see all signers here.
