AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY:

FROM BAD TO WORSE IN A TIGHT U.S. HOUSING MARKET

Rodney Harrell, vice president, family, home and community for AARP,  said there is a huge economic benefit to building housing and neighborhoods that are accessible to all.

He said if a person can no longer use the stairs at their house or apartment building, they stay home and become socially isolated.

He cited AARP research that found the impact on the health of socially isolated older adults is an estimated $6.7 billion in additional Medicare spending annually. 

That impact didn’t consider the same negative impact on the health of people with disabilities who are not elderly.

Clearly, cities that use tax credits and other incentives on affordable/accessible housing–can potentially erase hundreds of billions in Medicare and Medicaid spending.