A new report published by the Joint Center for Housing Studies and The Hastings Center highlights lessons and innovations learned from the COVID pandemic that could become permanent solutions to help older adults with their housing needs and supportive services.
Titled Advancing Housing and Health Equity for Older Adults: Pandemic Innovations and Policy Ideas, the report draws from more than 200 examples of housing-focused pandemic responses nationwide. Among them:
- Age-friendly networks played a critical role in information sharing, advocacy and the delivery of goods and services during the pandemic. Funders, including government agencies and foundations, can play a larger role in nurturing the development of interorganizational networks and partnerships, especially ones that include local organizations trusted by older adults;
- Collaboration with older adults was essential in devising pandemic responses. Engaging older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers in planning processes helps ensure that plans meaningfully include the full population; and
- Flexibility in regulations and funding enabled many pandemic responses. Going forward, some of these responses might be made permanent or flexibility could be built in to ensure innovation in non-emergency times. Read the full report.
