SGS Housing Resources
SGS Housing Resources
These resources were developed as a part of our 2024 and 2025 Advocacy in Aging Virtual Forums. To learn more about our past Advocacy in Aging Forums, please click here.
AARP Livable Communities
All About Accessory Dwelling Units
Accessory dwelling units are small homes that exist on the same property lot as a single-family residence. This page contains links to numerous resources, including free print and downloadable publications.
The ABCs of ADUs
The ABCs of ADUs is a primer for elected officials, policymakers, local leaders, homeowners, consumers and others to learn what accessory dwelling units are and how and why they are built. The guide also suggests best practices for how towns, cities, counties and states can support the creation of ADUs as a way to expand and diversify housing options.
Discovering and Developing Missing Middle Housing
This publication provides local leaders, building and planning professionals, and involved community members with information about what Missing Middle Housing is, where it still exists, and why it’s time for communities nationwide to return this versatile residence type to America’s housing portfolio.
Expanding Middle Housing Options
Local and state middle housing guides that can help government officials, other local leaders, planners and interested residents create effective middle housing legislation and help take the missing out of missing middle housing.
Make Room for 'Making Room'
Making Room: Housing for a Changing America is a rallying cry for a wider menu of housing options. The publication introduces readers — be they residential builders or designers, community leaders or the general public — to a future that can feature a menu of housing options that better serve people of all ages and the needs of a changing America. Organized into four parts, Making Room begins with a look at the nation's changing demographics and household types, followed by a collection of more than three-dozen housing solutions and then a "tour" of The Open House, an interactive, furnished demonstration home that was created for the exhibition (by Clei with Resource Furniture) and could seamlessly accommodate three entirely different household living arrangements.
Re-Legalizing Middle Housing
This guide provides options for state and local governments to create and enact effective, customized, Middle Housing legislation that works.
Administration for Community Living Housing and Services Resource Center
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The Housing and Services Resource Center was created to serve people working in organizations and systems that provide housing, homelessness, health, independent living, and other supportive services that help people live successfully and stably in the community. This site offers information and tools for developing cross-sector partnerships, fostering community collaboration, and using innovative strategies.
On November 1, HHS and HUD solicited applications for the Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator, which will support states in developing or expanding innovative housing-related supports and services for Medicaid-eligible people with disabilities and older adults who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. As the name suggests, the Accelerator will focus on helping states improve collaboration and coordination between organizations and systems that provide services and resources that help people find – and keep – stable housing in the community. On February 9, 2024, HHS and HUD announced that the following eight states and the District of Columbia were selected to participate in the Accelerator – Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Washington. Below is the description from the 3 areas in the SGS region.
District of Columbia
The District of Columbia (DC) has a goal of achieving a whole-person, population-based, integrated Medicaid health system that is comprehensive, coordinated, high quality, culturally competent, and equitable. DC plans to leverage coaching and peer learning through the Accelerator to enhance and expand housing supports and services to Medicaid-eligible older adults and people with disabilities, under their1915(i) State Plan Benefit. DC has substantially reduced homelessness after implementing several multiyear strategic plans focused on ending homelessness, addressing the opioid epidemic, and improving access to care and services for individuals with complex needs, older adults, and people with disabilities. DC’s Medicaid agency, the Department of Health Care Finance, leads a diverse team that was formed and tested through years of partnership. The team includes representatives from the Department of Human Services, the Interagency Council on Homelessness, and other District of Columbia government health and human service agencies and will work in partnership with DC managed care, healthcare, and supportive housing providers.
Maryland
Through the Accelerator, Maryland plans to expand a statewide coalition of critical stakeholders that will work together to increase housing stability and improve health outcomes for Medicaid participants at risk of institutional placement or homelessness. This will complement the state’s work to expand its Assistance in Community Integration Services (ACIS) pilot statewide. Maryland seeks to increase integrated support for Medicaid-eligible people and to identify ways to streamline access to services through its Maryland Access Point (MAP), to ensure people at risk of or experiencing homelessness are prioritized for assistance through Medicaid. Maryland’s Medicaid agency aims to use this technical assistance opportunity to improve and sustain coordination and collaboration across agencies and organizations to address homelessness statewide. Maryland's goals for expansion are supported by the state's strategic plan to end homelessness, its “Olmstead” activities to support community living for people with disabilities, and the state’s disabilities plan. Led by the state Medicaid agency, Maryland comes to the Accelerator with an integrated team that includes the state departments of housing and community development, aging, and disabilities, in close coordination with other statewide associations and organizations.
North Carolina
North Carolina seeks to build on current initiatives to improve housing supports and services by strengthening the collaboration between Medicaid and housing resources within the state, including the Healthy Opportunities Pilot (which has provided more than 13,000 services to 33 rural counties representing one third of the state) and Olmstead Transition to Community Living. The state will explore ways to align eligibility criteria across programs, maximize resources, and design a centralized, streamlined point of access for individuals to ensure that all people with disabilities and older adults who are at risk for homelessness, or experiencing homelessness, have access to eligible housing and support services. Led by the North Carolina Medicaid agency, the state team includes representation across the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Interagency Council for Coordinating Homeless Programs.
A Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging
About The Plan
On May 30, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Administration for Community Living, released “Aging in the United States: A Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging.” The report lays the groundwork for a coordinated effort — across the private and public sectors and in partnership with older adults, family caregivers, the aging services network, and other stakeholders — to create a national set of recommendations for advancing healthy aging and age-friendly communities that value and truly include older adults. The national plan on aging will advance best practices for service delivery, support development and strengthening of partnerships within and across sectors, identify solutions for removing barriers to health and independence for older adults, and more. Developed by leaders and experts from 16 federal agencies and departments working together through the Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC) on Healthy Aging and Age-Friendly Communities, the report also reflects input from community partners and leaders in the aging services network.
The Strategic Framework captures the opportunities and challenges created by the aging of the U.S. population and defines goals and objectives for addressing critical aging issues. It considers the many factors that influence the aging experience, as well as things all people need as they age, such as coordinated housing and services, aligned health care and supportive services, accessible communities, age-friendly workplaces, and high-quality long-term services and supports. Within these, the framework discusses key issues and work underway across the federal government, such as availability of affordable and accessible housing and promoting economic and financial security.
Elder Real Estate Fraud and Financial Exploitation Prevention
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Elder Real Estate Fraud and Financial Exploitation refers to a broad range of actions including, but not limited to: Forging a signature on legal or financial documents; Coercing or unduly influencing the signing of a legal or financial document; Non-disclosure of critical information; Inappropriate utilization of authority under a Power of Attorney (POA); and/or Defrauding older adults out of money or property. Download the Elder Real Estate Fraud Issue Brief.
Generations United
About Generations United
The mission of Generations United is to improve the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational collaboration, public policies, and programs for the enduring benefit of all.
Family Matters: Multigenerational Living Is on the Rise and Here to Stay
A new study reveals multigenerational living nearly quadrupled in the past decade, with the pandemic playing a strong role.
Healthier Lives Across Generations: A Blueprint for Intergenerational Living
The Blueprint is a call to action and a strategic plan designed to promote intentional intergenerational housing and communities that foster meaningful interactions among people of all generations. You can access the report and the recording from the release event.
Georgia Resources - Atlanta Regional Commission
Empowerline
Empowerline’s phone and online counselors link people with trusted community services — such as meals, transportation, resources to help care for a loved one, housing, assistance at home, and healthcare providers — to help them live their best lives. Empowerline also helps to educate. Via our Empowerline website and social media and through community and professional outreach events, Empowerline provides crucial information about a variety of issues, from preparing for retirement, to Medicare and Medicaid help, to finding volunteer opportunities to remain socially engaged and plugged in.
Live Beyond Expectations Regional Strategic Plan 2020-2025
In 2020, ARC’s Aging & Independence Services Group launched a five-year initiative that aims to improve longevity for residents of our region. The Live Beyond Expectations Regional Strategic Plan 2020-2025 is a strategic framework designed to identify and address the inequities that create disparities in life expectancy so that all people who live in the Atlanta region can lead long and healthy lives, no matter where they live.
Metro Atlanta Housing Strategy Toolkit
The Metro Atlanta Housing Strategy Toolkit is an interactive digital toolkit that provides detailed information and data about the region’s housing market to the neighborhood level and offers a set of actionable steps local communities can take to address their housing challenges.
Metro Atlanta’s Senior Housing Shortage (Issue Brief)
There is not enough quality, affordable housing in metro Atlanta to meet the needs of the region’s fast-growing population of older people. This policy briefing discusses the senior housing shortage and provides some solutions to address this issue.
Senior Homeownership Challenges (Issue Brief)
This policy briefing provides an overview of issues faced by older adults who own their housing in metro Atlanta.
Senior Rental Challenges (Issue Brief)
This policy briefing provides an overview of issues faced by older adults who rent their housing in metro Atlanta.
Justice in Aging
About Justice In Aging
Justice in Aging is a national organization that uses the power of law to fight senior poverty by securing access to affordable health care, economic security, and the courts for older adults with limited resources.
Housing and Homelessness Prevention
Justice in Aging’s work to prevent and end elder homelessness addresses systemic barriers to housing for low-income older adults, advances policy solutions to increase the supply of and funding for affordable age-friendly housing, and trains advocates serving older adults on how to connect their older adult clients to affordable housing.
The Importance of Federal Rental Assistance for Older Adults
Housing is the foundation to ensuring that we all have the opportunity to age in our own homes and communities. Yet conversations about supports for older adults often overlook the importance of federal rental assistance.
Multisector Plan for Aging
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A Multisector Plan for Aging (MPA) is a 10+ year blueprint for restructuring state and local policies and convening a wide range of cross-sector stakeholders to collaboratively address the needs of older-adult populations. MPAs are designed to create a coordinated system of high-quality care and support services that promote healthy aging, independent living, and social engagement, while also addressing issues related to healthcare, housing, transportation, and other social determinants of health.
National Alliance to End Homelessness
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The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan organization committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States.
Tiny House Laws in the USA; States That Allow Tiny Houses
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Looking for the next step in joining the Tiny House Movement? You came to the right place. Many people in similar positions have wondered how it’s possible to live in their tiny house without breaking any laws. Sure, it would be great if it were easy, but once you’re living worry-free in your tiny home you’ll be glad you took the time to do the research.
UPLIFT Florida Network
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UPLIFT Florida Network (UPLIFT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its mission is to improve the well-being of individuals and communities via a network of villages and organizations supporting them. UPLIFT is designed to connect people, activities, and resources to enrich our lives while maintaining our health and well-being as we age – and we are all aging
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Addressing Homelessness Among Older Adults: Final Report
This report provides a roadmap for understanding the population of older adults at risk of or experiencing homelessness and what services and supports are available to serve them. Using an equity lens, we examine these topics with attention to what is known about racial and ethnic groups disproportionately impacted by homelessness. We highlight the challenges older adults face in accessing the assistance available; innovative practices, especially those implemented during the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, that could ease these challenges; and remaining gaps that need to be filled to effectively tackle the problem. We end with recommendations to better identify and serve older adults at risk of or experiencing homelessness. This research was funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation under contract and carried out by Westat. Please visit the ASPE website for more information about ASPE research on homelessness and housing.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
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Helping you meet your housing needs. HUD provides housing support and uplifts communities. Let us guide your next steps to the right place.
HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies
The nationwide network of HUD participating housing counseling agencies have been helping consumers across America for more than 50 years by providing the answers they need to make informed housing decisions. Use the search to find a HUD participating housing counseling agency near you.
CoC: Continuum of Care Program
The CoC Program is designed to promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness by providing funding for efforts by nonprofit providers and State and local governments and promoting access to and effect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families.
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