More than 1,000 elected officials, policymakers and affordable housing providers and residents showed their support for housing assistance for older adults by attending LeadingAge’s Senior Housing NOW Rally on Wednesday afternoon.
Additional events were held around the country, LeadingAge said.
“We want to be very loud and very clear about the need for HUD 202 housing,” LeadingAge President and CEO Katie Smith Sloan said in a statement before the rally, referring to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program.
“Preserving what we have and increasing our supply is critical. Seniors represent 66% of the recent increase in ‘worst case housing needs,’ and demand for this housing is growing. More—not less—funding is needed,” she added.
Four elected officials — Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Rep. Katie Hill (D-CA), Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO) and Rep. Donna Shalala (D-FL) — spoke at the event, and more than 30 member organizations were represented.
LeadingAge streamed the rally live on Facebook, and it can be viewed here.
