It is time to move forward on affordable housing in New York, an update from LiveOn NY. For older adults, the lack of availability and affordable housing is a worsening crisis. Solutions recommended include production, preservation, and regulation. By retooling existing programs and additional investment in select programs, the City can serve at least 100,000 seniors, laying the groundwork to meet the housing needs of NYC’s growing elderly population.

1. Call to Action:
Time to Move Forward on
Affordable Senior Housing
An Intervention to Increase Public Savings and Improve Seniors’ Stability
January 20, 2015
By

2. Call to Action: Time to Move Forward on Affordable Senior Housing
INTRODUCTION
Affordable housing remains a challenge for New Yorkers living in a city with a stubbornly
low housing vacancy rate, a dwindling stock of affordable units and ever rising rents. For
older adults, the lack of availability and affordability of housing is a worsening crisis.
2
To date, piecemeal solutions have addressed housing affordability issues for
seniors.
The Aging Tsunami
By 2030, NYC’s 60+ population
will increase to 1.84 million, a
47% increase from 2000.
High Rent Burden
2 in 3 New Yorkers age 70+ pay
more than 30% of their income
on rent.
Low Income
1 in 5 older New Yorkers
live in poverty.
Evolving Healthcare
Needs
37% of non-institutionalized
elders reported some level of
disability.

3. Call to Action: Time to Move Forward on Affordable Senior Housing
BACKGROUND
The City’s current housing assistance programs available to seniors fall into the following
categories:
3
Demand for public housing remains strong with 170,000families on the waitlist,
which nearly equals NYCHA’s 175,000public housing units.

4. Call to Action: Time to Move Forward on Affordable Senior Housing
BACKGROUND
•6% - Percentage of the 165,000 affordable housing units developed and preserved from 2002-
2013 dedicated to senior housing.
•300– Average number of new senior units developed annually utilizing financing made available
through the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development and NYC Housing Development
Corporation
•17,300 – Number of new and preserved units in 2014, cited by the DeBlasio administration,
to be counted towards their 200,000 10- year goal.
•133,000 – Number of city rental units that have gone market rate over the last 20 years
(according to the NYC Rent Guidelines Board)
4

5. Call to Action: Time to Move Forward on Affordable Senior
Housing
OPPORTUNITIES
5
Addressing Isolation
In a congregate housing model, tenant
independence is maintained but social
connections are fostered through
well-designed communal space and
structured social opportunities.
Safety and Security
Too many seniors in New York City
lack an accessible, safe and secure
living environment, which senior
housing can provide.
Improved Physical and Mental Health
Outcomes
Senior housing can provide linkages
with health providers and offer an
efficient platform for assessing the
health status of a large number of
high-risk individuals
Cost Savings
Some emergency healthcare costs can
be more efficiently addressed through
managed care and outpatient
services. A recent report found that
homeless or institutionalized people
placed into NY/NY III supportive
housing saved Medicaid a net average
of $10,100 per person per year

6. Call to Action: Time to Move Forward on Affordable Senior Housing
SOLUTIONS
CSCS seeks investment and policy improvements in a comprehensive senior housing plan
to address the challenges facing older adults and senior housing developers while
leveraging public resources to maximize social and economic benefits. The three-part
plan will improve:
1) Production
2) Preservation
3) Regulation
of affordable housing for older New Yorkers.
6
By retooling existing programs and additional investment in select programs, the City can serve
at least 100,000 seniors, laying the groundwork to meet the housing needs of NYC’s
growing elderly population.

7. Call to Action: Time to Move Forward on Affordable Senior Housing
1) PRODUCTION
• Establish Senior Housing + Services Program
• Double HPD Production of Senior Housing (3,000 to 6,000 units)
• HPD/HDC New Construction Set-Asides and Senior Housing
Preservation
• Guarantee inclusionary housing for seniors
• Prioritize senior housing on City-owned sites that are RFP’d for
development
7

8. Call to Action: Time to Move Forward on Affordable Senior Housing
2) PRESERVATION -
REFORM SCRIE
•Increase subscription by at least 50% to aid 75,000 households
annually.
•Limit rent burden to 30% of a tenant’s gross income as per federal
affordability standards.
•Launch SCRIE Outreach Program to raise awareness.
•Help seniors facing eviction due to nonpayment of rent by reforming the
program to offer landlords a tax rebate for back payment of rent.
•Amend city and state policies regarding the recertification process to ensure
seniors are not deemed ineligible for missing the recertification deadline.
8

9. Call to Action: Time to Move Forward on Affordable Senior Housing
3) REGULATION
•Adopt Citizens and Housing Planning Council’s “Making Room”
recommendations - To address the way New Yorkers are living today
•Incorporate Universal Design principles – Targeting Fall Prevention
•Enhance senior housing bonus – Incentivize developers
•Eliminate parking requirements – CSCS Section 202 Parking Lot Survey
9

10. Call to Action: Time to Move Forward on Affordable Senior Housing
CALL TO ACTION
Making New York a more
affordable and equitable city can
only be achieved through an
intergovernmental strategy that
seeks to identify key areas of
overlap where stakeholders can
come together, build on past
successes, and put into practice
one of the best prescriptions for
any vulnerable senior – a safe place
to call home.
10