FY19 HUD Budget Enacted and LeadingAge Releases FY20 HUD Budget Request

The FY19 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) budget was enacted on Feb. 15, 2019 as part of a package of bills that reopened the federal government. The HUD bill provides $51 million for new housing under HUD’s Section 202 Housing for the Elderly program, full funding needed to renew existing rental assistance contracts, funds to renew Service Coordinators, and $10 million for a new HUD program to assist older adults with the modification of their homes.

The total allocation to the Section 202 program in these bills was $678 million – equal to what the House and Senate provided in their standalone FY19 HUD bills. The total allocation to the Section 202 account provides:

$51 million for new Section 202 capital advances and project-based assistance;
$90 million for Service Coordinator renewals; and
$10 million for the new program to be established by the HUD Secretary “to make grants to experienced nonprofit organizations, State, local governments, or public housing agencies for safety and functional home modification repairs to meet the needs of low income elderly persons to enable them to remain in their primary residence.” At least $5 million of this new program must be available to meet the needs of communities in rural areas.

The remainder of the account's funds is for the renewal of operating subsidies and amendments, including for Project Rental Assistance Contracts.

LeadingAge National established their FY20 budget requests based on the need for affordable senior housing. LeadingAge's FY20 priorities include:

$600 million for new homes under the Section 202 program;
Expansion of Service Coordinator funding to 500 additional communities;
Full funding for the renewal of rental assistance contracts (Project Rental Assistance Contracts and Project-Based Rental Assistance) and current Service Coordinator funding;
Section 202 Capital Repair Grant funding;
Continued funding for the new home modification program;
Expansion and improvement to the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program; and
Protection and expansion of the Housing Trust Fund and Capital Magnet Fund.

Further information about LeadingAge National's FY20 policy priorities may be found here.

Contact: Sara Neitzel, sneitzel@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8835