From the Office of Senator Kerry

Thursday, June 15, 2000

Washington, D.C.- Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA) today joined with Senator Paul S. Sarbanes (D-MD) in introducing the Affordable Housing for Seniors and Families Act. This legislation closes the gaps in federal housing assistance programs for the elderly, disabled persons, and low-income families, many of whom are paying over 50% of their income to housing costs. The bill sponsored by Senators Kerry and Sarbanes also addresses the great need among many elderly and disabled families for assisted living facilities. Assisted living is the fastest growing type of elderly housing in the U.S. This bill allows existing housing to be converted to assisted living facilities to meet the needs of the elderly and disabled.

"There are eight seniors lining up for each assisted living housing unit in this country. This booming economy has left us with a tight housing market that leaves too many of our seniors and low income families without adequate housing," said Senator Kerry. "I believe that we can do better. This legislation ensures that assisted living, a supportive and increasingly necessary living arrangement, is available to all elderly and disabled Americans regardless of income."

"This legislation assists us in meeting affordable housing needs of low-income people," said Senator Sarbanes, the Ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. "It expands access to capital from both federal and non-federal sources from elderly and disabled housing programs, helping to create new housing opportunities for these communities."

Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) said, "I would like to express my gratitude to Senator Kerry for working closely with me and commend him for his leadership on this important legislation. Even as our national economy flourishes, many Americans are struggling to find safe, decent, sanitary, affordable housing. The scarcity of affordable housing is particularly troubling for seniors and the disabled who may require special structural accommodations in their homes. Senator Kerry and I believe our bill will help to fill the critical housing needs of elderly and disabled families."

This bill provides matching grants to States and localities, including Boston, that devote resources to the preservation of affordable housing, creates a grant program to assist non-profit organizations in developing affordable housing, and provides for the renewal of existing programs that develop affordable housing. The legislation allows 236 uninsured project owners to retain their excess income for use in the project, helping to keep these owners in the program and ensuring that the units will remain affordable.

Senator Santorum is an original co-sponsor of the legislation.

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