Northern Virginia senior housing has supply-demand ‘disconnect’

The report noted that the county currently has about 3,500 affordable housing units for seniors. About 85% of them are privately owned and operated, while the rest are managed by the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA).

The situation is poised to worsen in light of President Donald Trump’s proposed budget cuts at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These cuts include the elimination of the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnerships programs, as well as tens of billions of dollars in rental assistance at the national level — including funds targeted specifically to seniors.

Tom Fleetwood, director of the FCRHA, shared a presentation with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and told them that his organization is considering a few approaches to increase housing options for low-income seniors.

These include support for new construction projects aimed at residents at the bottom of the income spectrum, along with “supplemental resources” that would keep them less stretched by housing costs.

County Supervisor Dalia Palchik, who chairs the board’s housing committee, said “there’s only so much we do through official channels.” The county has some 210 affordable units designated for seniors in its development program, but that may not be enough as the senior population grows and the median age rises — similar to trends in the rest of the U.S.

FFXnow noted that late last month, a senior housing complex in Arlington, Virginia, announced its plans to phase out its assisted-living operations. The outlet also previously reported that these 270 assisted-living units will be converted into units for independent living.

In March, a report from the Urban Institute was blunt in its assessment of the national housing market landscape, saying that it’s “failing older adults.”

The report cited U.S. Census Bureau data showing that over the past 20 years, the number of senior households who are “severely cost burdened” has grown from 5.2 million to 11.7 million. This cohort was defined as a household that spends more than half of its income on housing.

Rising mortgage payments, insurance premiums and property taxes are key drivers of this trend. The Urban Institute noted that across all age groups, renters are more likely to be cost burdened than homeowners, while older seniors (75 and up) are more at risk than younger seniors.

Along with reverse mortgages, potential options for seniors to explore in these situations include property-tax deferral programs; state-issued Medicaid waivers that can be applied to housing; and the expansion of subsidized housing supply.