AARP Foundation has awarded a $300,000 grant to CSH to help meet the needs of low-income adults age 50 and older who are no longer homeless and now living in supportive housing, which is a blend of very affordable housing, intensive case management and critical services like medical and behavioral healthcare.
CSH will use the AARP Foundation investment to leverage knowledge developed through its Aging Learning Collaborative to train supportive housing providers in several states on the best practices for addressing the unique services requirements associated with aging, formerly homeless individuals. This includes anticipating and responding to both physical space and special program design needs.
“Homelessness is on the rise among older adults and the elderly with recent reports showing the homeless population ages 51 to 61 growing by well over 20%,” said CSH President and CEO Deborah De Santis. “Adding to this alarming trend is the reality that older adults experiencing homelessness have three to four times the mortality rate of the general population due to unmet medical, mental health and substance use challenges, making them likely candidates for supportive housing as an alternative to a nursing home. Working together with AARP Foundation will allow us to expand the quality of supportive housing for older adults and that is critically important since we know it works to improve their lives.”
In addition to training supportive housing providers, CSH is committed to increasing the numbers of supportive housing models serving aging tenants through its predevelopment lending. Such projects also will receive technical assistance from CSH as a result of this AARP Foundation grant.
A new guide entitled “Impactful Innovations in Serving a Vulnerable Aging Population in Supportive Housing” is planned as a framework for developers, property managers, services providers and policymakers committed to creating solutions so that older adults in supportive housing can age safely in place.
About AARP Foundation
AARP Foundation works to ensure that low-income older adults have nutritious food, affordable, livable and healthy housing, a steady income, and strong and sustaining bonds. We collaborate with individuals and organizations who share our commitment to innovation and our passion for problem-solving. Supported by vigorous legal advocacy, we create and advance effective solutions that help struggling older adults transform their lives. AARP Foundation is the affiliated charity of AARP. Learn more at aarpfoundation.org.
