Federal Bill Introduced to Expand Service Coordination
On Aug. 9th, U.S. Representatives Adam Smith (D-WA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) reintroduced the “Expanding Service Coordinators Act” to grow and improve Service Coordination programs in affordable housing by increasing funding for federal Service Coordinator grant programs and making improvements to training and retention opportunities for these critical staff. Advancing the legislation for the second time, the federal lawmakers called the bill a critical workforce initiative.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Service Coordinators help older adults age in independent living by connecting households with a wide range of social services on resident request. LeadingAge National helped shape this bill before its reintroduction, in part by advocating with the congressional offices to create new Service Coordinator grants for affordable senior housing developed using Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTCs), since these properties do not currently have a clear funding mechanism to incorporate Service Coordination.
More information on the “Expanding Service Coordinators Act” is available from LeadingAge National here.
Contact: Annalyse Komoroske Denio, akomoroskedenio@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866