Housing
DOMAIN DESCRIPTION Availability of home modification programs for aging in place as well as a range of age-friendly housing options. Brief Statement of Survey Responses Pima Council on Aging’s Needs Assessment responses: • Sixty-eight percent of respondents said they were concerned about the ability to live independently in their homes as they age. • The primary concern of Pima County residents was falling and the fear of falling. Home modifications and improvements can drastically reduce an older adult’s risk of falling and conversely impact their ability to live independently and with dignity at home as they age. AARP Arizona’s survey responses: • A majority of respondents expect to stay in their home or community as they get older. • Twenty-two percent of respondents indicated that their home needs major repairs or modifications to enable them to remain in the home as long as possible. Community Challenges Although the City and a number of nonprofit organizations provide older adults with housing assistance, the number of housing units, housing options, and available funding for home repairs and renovations falls short of the growing demand. • Of those who rent, 60% of those 60 and older pay more than 30% of their income in housing
and housing-related expenses; meaning that a majority of low- to moderate-income older adults are living beyond their means. One of the barriers older adults in Tucson face is economic access to housing. • The American Community Survey, a product of the U.S. Census, states that 25.2% of those 60 and older in our community live at or below 150% of the federal poverty level. • The City’s Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) has nearly 2,000 older adults on their Section 8 waiting list. WhatTucson Has Done • The City receives approximately $2.5 million annually in HOME block grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Housing and Community Development Department uses HOME funding to support housing development, repair, and homebuyer assistance; leverages public and private funds; and supports the efforts of non-profit and for- profit affordable housing developers. • The City of Tucson currently has 2,259 units of affordable housing designated for older adults or
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