Fiscal 2015 Housing Funding Similar in House and Senate

On June 5, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee approved a fiscal 2015 Transportation-HUD appropriations bill similar to the measure approved by the U.S. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on May 21.

Both bills provide a total of $420 million for the Section 202 account, a $36.5 million increase over fiscal 2014 funding, but $20 million less than President Obama's budget request.  

The bills allocate $350 million for project rental assistance contract (PRAC) renewals and amendments, and $70 million for service coordinators and existing congregate services grants. 

It is unclear if there is enough funding to renew all service coordinator grants.  There is no additional funding for new demonstration or SPRAC projects. 

Neither the House nor the Senate committee allowed new funding for the housing with supportive services demonstration program in fiscal 2015. The Senate committee's report language notes that the combination of resources from fiscal year 2014 appropriations, residual receipts, collections, and other unobligated balances are sufficient to administer a long-term demonstration of how housing plus supportive services can delay the need for more costly assisted living or nursing home care.

Both Appropriations Committees provided $9.746 billion for the project-based Section 8 account, and acknowledged that the amount was below what was necessary for twelve months of operations

LeadingAge will continue doing everything possible to maximize resources for housing low- and moderate-income older adults and to show the savings and improved quality of life that can be achieved by combining affordable housing with supportive services. 

Contact: Ken Harris, kharris@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8835