The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released new funding for Service Coordination programs in affordable senior housing on December 13. LeadingAge was instrumental in securing the funds for the much-anticipated expansion of HUD’s Service Coordination programs.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) posted by HUD will fund approximately 160 Service Coordination programs across the country.  The program, called the Service Coordinators in Multifamily Housing program, has not seen new funding from HUD since 2013. Current Service Coordinators are funded through renewal funding through the agency, and there is high demand for new funding. The deadline to apply for new Service Coordinator funding is March 14, 2024.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced new funding for the Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Service Coordinator program for Public Housing Agencies on October 19. ROSS service coordinators serve Public and Indian Housing (PIH) residents by providing case management and coordinating available resources in the community.

HUD also extended eligibility of the ROSS Service Coordination Program to multifamily housing properties that converted from public housing to Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) properties, including either Project-based Voucher (PBV) or Project-based Rental Assistance (PBRA). This key change helps properties to maintain (or restart) service coordination through RAD conversion.

Multifamily housing properties that did not convert under RAD are not eligible for ROSS Service Coordination Program funding.

Following strong LeadingAge advocacy, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has begun approving affordable senior housing property requests for HUD to waive outdated requirements that prohibit service coordination programs at certain properties. In 2022 and 2023, several LeadingAge Service Coordinator programs were cut from HUD property budgets in instances where the property did not meet standards related to minimum property unit count or minimum resident frailty levels. LeadingAge pushed back strongly and urged HUD to correct its interpretation of outdated policies on property eligibility requirements.

LeadingAge will continue to work with HUD on a long-term policy solution that will prevent disruptions in both budget-based and grant funded service coordination programs.

Following LeadingAge advocacy, lawmakers introduced the Expanding Service Coordinators Act to grow and improve Service Coordination programs in affordable housing on August 9, 2023. The legislation would increase funding for federal service coordinator grant programs and make improvements to training and retention opportunities.

LeadingAge helped craft the bill before it was reintroduced, including advocacy with the congressional offices to create new service coordination grants for affordable senior housing developed through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), which currently does not have a clear funding mechanism to incorporate service coordinators.

On February 9, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published LeadingAge-driven guidance on the supportive services fee for Section 202 PRAC properties. The additional budget allotment helps HUD-assisted properties provide independent living services to older adults aging in community.

The fee, which can total between $15-$27 per unit per month at Section 202 PRAC properties, funds services and activities that support independent aging. LeadingAge initiated the gudiance process with HUD and was instrumental in producing the resulting Housing Notice, which will help providers request and implement the additional funding.

In an August 25 letter to HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, LeadingAge and the American Association of Service Coordinators (AASC) requested urgent action to release Service Coordinator grant payments. After two consecutive years with nine-month delays in grant funding for the 12-month Service Coordinator program, LeadingAge’s letter urged both quick action to remedy the funding lapse and comprehensive action to reform grant administration.

“The [funding] delay is forcing property owners across the country to disrupt access to services for HUD-assisted older adults by laying off Service Coordinators, discontinuing programming, delaying building repairs to free up funding, and threatening property operations to make ends meet,” reads the letter.