Last week, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the “Making Affordable Housing Work Act,” a harmful proposal that would impose rent increases on many individuals and families across HUD affordable housing programs—including millions of low-income seniors. This proposal puts the health and well-being of more than 1.5 million senior households at risk by: 

• Moving the rent structure to 30% gross income (from 30% adjusted income) or a $50 minimum rent, whichever is greater
• Phasing in rent increases (currently-assisted seniors would not see rent changes until the second triennial recertification); 
• Eliminating all deductions, including deductions for medical expenses and for being a senior; 
• Redefining “elderly household” to bring 62-65 year olds into even higher rent schemes and the bill’s work requirements. 

Increasing rents for the very lowest income seniors, such as those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), will push more seniors into deep poverty and homelessness. Homelessness among seniors can lead to chronic and high-cost health care needs, greater risk of institutionalization, and increased strain on our public safety and health agencies. In partnership with several state and national organizations, the National Low Income Housing Coalition issued a press release and fact sheet that explain how stable, affordable housing helps people age in place and maintain improved health, and why we must fight to protect, expand, and improve access to such housing for low-income seniors. 

As we’ve discussed, housing assistance is part of a broad array of federal programs seniors depend on to support themselves as they age. At a time when more seniors are aging into poverty and housing is becoming increasingly unaffordable, we should be creating affordable housing solutions for seniors, not pushing housing farther out of reach.