HUD AWARDS $7.5 MILLION TO HELP SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY AT HOME
39 grants to help thousands get connected to critical service programs

WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro today announced nearly $7.5 million in grants to help thousands of senior citizens and persons with disabilities to receive health care, meals, and other critical supportive services. The grants are awarded through HUD's Multifamily Housing Service Coordinator Program (MHSC) (see attached list of grants below).

The grants announced today are awarded to 39 owners of private housing developments that receive rental subsidies from HUD to house low-income individuals in 21 states. These property owners or their management companies will hire or contract service coordinators with backgrounds in providing social services, especially to the frail elderly and people with disabilities, to assist their residents with special needs.

"Service coordinators connect senior citizens and those living with disabilities with the services they need to live independently," said HUD Secretary Julián Castro. "These grants will go a long way toward ensuring these vulnerable populations are well served and allowed to age in place."

The grants awarded today are designed for an initial three-year period to allow eligible owners of multifamily housing for the elderly or disabled, to hire and support a service coordinator. The funds cover such costs as salary, benefits, quality assurance, training, office space, equipment, and other related administrative expenses. A 2008 HUD report (www.huduser.org/portal/publications/hsgspec/serv_coord.html) found aging in place reduces rates of premature institutionalization for low-income elderly residents, thus reducing the costs borne by taxpayers.

As the U.S. population ages and the number of older Americans grows, there will be an increased need for programs to help very low-income elderly persons to continue living independently in their homes. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 35 million people age 65 years or older in the U.S. in 2000, and it estimates that by 2050 that number will climb to 80 million.

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Fiscal Year 2013 Multifamily Service Coordinator Program Grants