Senate Banking Committee Passes Livable Communities Act
The Senate Banking Committee recently voted to approve the Livable Communities Act, a proposal to create more sustainable and energy-efficient communities. The bill, sponsored by Chairman Christopher Dodd, provides a series of planning and project implementation grants for communities to help plan and coordinate initiatives to develop affordable housing and public transit solutions.
The bill authorizes $475 million for development of plans for land use, housing and public transportation and provides $2.2 billion for development of affordable housing supported by accessible public transportation. Part of the bill authorizes the creation of a new HUD office, Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities, to work across government agencies to foster a coordinated and comprehensive approach to community development.
“This bill also recognizes that the demographics in our nation are shifting significantly. The share of the population over 65 will grow rapidly in coming decades. An AARP survey showed that 71 percent of older Americans want to live within walking distance of transit. More walkable communities that offer access to shopping, medical services, and social amenities can help older Americans age in place, and preserve their independence—even while they curtail their driving,” said Senator Chris Dodd in his prepared remarks.
Category: Communities, Government Programs
This is a terrrific beginning. As consultants to the County of Rockland, New York on aging in place, we have discovered that the number one issue is transportation. Our collaberation with the AARP on a walkability study and the County's Project Tomorrow is one of the largest focus groups on successful aging in an urban setting. We applaud this advance and hope that all the subsequent requirements for passage and implementation take place.
We are happy to share our findings and reports with any of the senior living communites. We have been called upon in several areas throughout the country to help senior living facilites offer at home services, as communities realize the desire to age in place and want to make their services relevant to a boomer and active senior population.
It is of critical importance that facilities and age based communites become the asset to aging in place that they can be, as it is staff and developers of senior housing communites that have the on the ground experience of life transitions as people age. I do not see aging in place as a competitor to privately planned communities, but as a natural next step as technology and health care and communication advances allow us to have wider housing choices.
Yours, Adriane Berg, CEO GENERATION BOLD. generationbold.com