Aging and Thriving: A Call to Strengthen Supportive Housing for Older Adults in NYC

This report outlines the need and opportunity to develop effective, aging-centric, supportive housing models to help older New Yorkers age safely and with dignity in communities of their choice.

Supportive housing—permanently affordable housing paired with support services—has long been a critical part of NYC’s housing and services ecosystem and is well-suited to help older adults thrive. However, existing models are not equipped to meet New Yorkers’ evolving needs as they age, resulting in unnecessary hospitalizations, premature nursing home admissions, stigma against behavioral health conditions for those who do need nursing home care, and overreliance on crisis systems to fill in the gaps.

This resource contains key recommendations for city and state leaders to enhance supportive housing targeting older adults. Not only will these changes save lives by ensuring older adults have a safe place to live with services appropriate to their needs, but they will also yield savings in New York City and New York State budgets.

Related Resources

Beyond Low-Income Housing Tax Credits
A sheet of paper with a magnifying glass

Affordable Housing

October 9, 2024

This brief provides an analysis of how Qualified Allocation Plans (QAPs) prioritize supportive housing development and guidelines that housing finance agencies and state leaders can...

Best Practices

A sheet of paper with a magnifying glass

Best Practices

March 19, 2024

This brief titled Supportive Housing and Olmstead: State of the Conversation, February 2024, delves into critical considerations for policymakers and advocates amidst implementing state HCBS...

JISH Funding Info Sheet
A sheet of paper with a magnifying glass

Affordable Housing

March 5, 2024

Supportive Housing (SH) is an evidence-based solution that combines permanent affordable housing with tenant-centered support services to help people who face complex health challenges, including...