National Advocacy Opportunity! Senate Letter on Congressional Investment in Senior Housing Programs

(April 14, 2026) In support of strong funding for affordable housing for low-income older adults, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is asking his Senate colleagues to join a letter to Senate Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) appropriations leaders. LeadingAge and its members support this effort each year. Please reach out to your Senate offices and ask them to join the letter, which requests strong funding for key HUD programs like Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly and Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities.

As of early April, roughly 20 senators have signed on, and LeadingAge is pushing for at least 20 more to join the effort. Senators can sign on using this link (the link will only work for Senate staff).

Specific asks include full funding for contract renewals for the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly program, an additional $600 million for capital advances and operating subsidies for 2,000 new 202 homes to meet increasing need, $50 million to fund a new Older Adult Special Purpose Housing Choice Voucher program for 5,000 older adults, $10 million in Rental Assistance Demonstration conversion subsidy to support preservation of 202 homes, and strong funding to renew and expand Service Coordinators in 202 housing.

The “Dear Colleague” letter mirrors LeadingAge’s top priorities for affordable senior housing funding for Fiscal Year 2027.

For assistance reaching out to Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) on this issue, reach out to Juliana Bilowich, LeadingAge’s Vice President of Housing Policy.

As a reminder, aging services stakeholders can also easily reach out to their senators and representatives urging them to invest in housing stability for older adults using this LeadingAge action alert.

Contact: Annalyse Komoroske Denio, akomoroskedenio@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8866