text: Task Force on The Impact of the Affordable Housing Crisis Act - Opportunity Starts at Home
  By: Evan Carmen, Assistant Director for Aging Policy, B'nai B'rith International
  ​Working at B'nai B'rith offers me the unique opportunity to see how housing is intertwined with other areas of senior's lives, especially health care. One of the goals of B'nai B'rith is to "age in place" which we accomplish through our sponsored Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 202 housing. Older Americans are able to "age in place" because service coordinators connect residents with community based services, which have demonstrated a greater likelihood of retaining residents in their existing buildings and therefore avoiding more pricey institutions like a nursing home.
  ​In addition, bi-partisan policy solutions generally have a better chance of becoming law, especially in the Senate. This legislation was introduced by U.S. Sens. Todd Young (R-Ind.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Angus King (I-Maine), along with cosponsors from both political parties. Furthermore, the people who serve on the Task Force will be appointed by both Democrats and Republicans. These Senators should be commended for taking an important "first step" toward discovering how integral affordable housing is to other federal programs.
  **The campaign will regularly cross-post blogs and op-eds written by its Roundtable participants that are relevant to the campaign's advocacy efforts. Evan Carmen represents his organization on the campaign's Roundtable. This blog was originally posted here.**