As the 2015 U.S. Budget continues to be
hashed over in Congress, I wanted to be sure and let Indiana seniors
and their family caregivers know that several issues affecting
Indianapolis senior housing and quality of life have the potential to
be impacted with this new budget.

But, there is still time to let
Congress and, specifically, your elected Indiana representatives know
that you wish for improvement in funding for these issues and most
certainly NO REDUCTION in these senior housing programs.

Resolve the “Observation Days”
issue: This will ensure Medicare beneficiaries receive the post-acute
care they need.

Maximum Possible Funding for Senior
Housing: And protect the HUD (Housing and Urban Development) housing with services demonstration.

Increase HCBS (Home and Community Based
Services) Funding: Helping older Americans in Indiana live independently as long
as possible.

“The Department requests $440 million for the Housing for the Elderly (Section 202) program in fiscal year 2015, an increase of $56.5 million above the fiscal year 2014 Enacted level. The demand from low-income seniors for affordable housing is enormous and expected to grow in the years ahead as a generation of Americans find themselves aging in place with little wealth accumulation and increasing rates of disabilities. The current supply of housing that can allow elderly households to live independently and age in place is not nearly enough to keep up with present demand and projected population growth.

Included in this request is $20 million for new awards of Elderly Project Rental Assistance (PRA) to support up to 3,400 additional units that will be used to support the funding of new affordable housing with services models for very low-income elderly to age in place, $70 million for renewal of Service Coordinator agreements, and $350 million for the renewal and amendment of project rental assistance contracts (PRAC).”