Establishes an affordable independent senior housing assistance program

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic9

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Cordell Cleare says this is needed

New York State has historically financed independent housing designed for seniors. In recent years, priorities have shifted and senior housing units have been included as a small set aside within larger supportive housing projects serving people with a broad range of special needs. This does not always achieve the objective of creating senior communi- ties with amenities and services for the aging population. The Social Security Administration estimates that 10,000 Americans are turning 65 every day. With that, the demand for age-targeted affordable housing developments with amenities and services geared for residents 62 and older is on the rise. Many of these seniors are anticipated to have limited retirement savings and will need subsidized rental housing to live safely and independently in the community. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 202 program, which built over 100,000 units of senior housing in New York, was discontinued in 2011, and now only provides ongoing rental assistance to existing devel- opments. Creating a new statewide Affordable Independent Senior Housing Assistance Program will help address the demand for safe, decent afford- able housing for seniors, while also ensuring that seniors are not unnecessarily placed in more costly and restrictive institutional settings. This program will also provide optional basic healthy aging services for residents.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.