The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report entitled “Elderly Housing: HUD Should Do More to Oversee Efforts to Link Residents to Services.”

This report estimates that about half of the Section 202 senior housing properties have resident service coordinators (RSCs). These are funded either by HUD grants or operating funds. According to HUD, 202 properties are required to connect residents with supportive services. Those who do not have RSCs usually have an on-site property manager fill this role, or they work with local agencies. The reason they do not have RSCs is generally due to their small size and / or lack of funding.

The report confirms the great variability in how 202 properties employ RSCs and / or try to connect residents with services. It also finds that HUD does not have clear policies and procedures to track and monitor how properties coordinate services, and that whatever data it does collect about service coordination is sketchy at best (to use a technical term).

The GAO recommends that HUD improve the accuracy of the data on 202 properties with service coordinators, develop guidance on how properties need to comply with the supportive services requirements, and develop procedures to verify the data that is reported. This is important given the increased role that senior housing can play in keeping individuals safe in the community.