Supportive Housing:

HUD Is Not Assessing the Needs of Elderly Residents

T-PEMD-92-12, Aug 12, 1992

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GAO discussed the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) efforts to provide supportive housing for the elderly, focusing on: (1) the methodologies HUD uses in assessing elderly need for section 202 housing; and (2) the need for modernization of section 202 buildings. GAO noted that: (1) HUD neither collects data nor has a methodology for assessing section 202 residents' supportive service needs; (2) HUD considers section 202 supportive services as the responsibility of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and there is inadequate cooperation between HHS and HUD; (3) the HUD lottery method of fund disbursement for supportive services inadequately targets residents and fails to provide assistance for those in the greatest need; (4) HUD lacks data on resident fraility levels, which would assist in determining modernization and retrofitting needs, target identification and disbursement of limited funds, and providing for resident needs; and (5) limited HUD travel and staff funding impedes annual inspections and assessments of retrofitting requirements.

Status Legend:

More Info
  • Review Pending-GAO has not yet assessed implementation status.
  • Open-Actions to satisfy the intent of the recommendation have not been taken or are being planned, or actions that partially satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-implemented-Actions that satisfy the intent of the recommendation have been taken.
  • Closed-not implemented-While the intent of the recommendation has not been satisfied, time or circumstances have rendered the recommendation invalid.
    • Review Pending
    • Open
    • Closed - implemented
    • Closed - not implemented

    Matter for Congressional Consideration

    Matter: Congress may wish to request that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development study the feasibility of a more productive methodology by developing a uniform definition of need and a standardized instrument for measuring needs for supportive services.

    Status: Closed - Not Implemented

    Comments: The subcommittee was disbanded along with the rest of the Select Committee on Aging.