LeadingAge, a national organization of nonprofit senior service and aging providers, is urging U.S. Senators to join a letter in support for full funding of contract renewals for the Section 202 Housing for the Elderly program – legislation that has a direct impact to Givens Affordable Communities.

Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, is asking his Senate colleagues to join the letter to appropriations leaders for strong fiscal year 2026 funding of HUD’s Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly and Section 811 Housing for Persons with Disabilities program. LeadingAge worked with Reed’s office on the letter and is asking every Senate office to join by a May 15 deadline.

The HUD 202 Program is the subsidy program serving 78 households in 40 Givens Gerber Park in south Asheville, and the subsidy and capital funding program for 36 households at Givens Great Laurels in Waynesville. It also is the capital funding and subsidy program for the planned Givens Webster Village in Sylva.

The letter asks for full funding for contract renewals for the Section 202 Housing for the Elderly program; an additional $600 million for capital advances and operating subsidies for 2,000 new 202 homes to meet increasing need; $50 million to fund a new Older Adult Special Purpose Housing Choice Voucher program for 5,000 older adults; $10 million in Rental Assistance Demonstration conversion subsidy to support preservation of 3,000 Section 202 homes; and, full funding to renew and expand service coordinators in 202 housing.

A growing number of low-income older adults are in need of affordable housing, while there is currently a national shortage. Senators may be reached through the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.