PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvania’s Department of Aging and Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging (P4A) have announced $210,000 grant funding to expand Elder Cottage Housing Opportunities (ECHO) across the state. The grant will cover two cottages for older adults requiring long-term care placement, with families looking for private, independent living solutions. The housing project supports the independence and dignity of older adults, and exploring innovative housing projects for the aging population is “one of the alternatives we need to consider,” said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich.
The Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) award was provided by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) and will fund two cottages: one in the Cumberland County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) service area and the other in the Luzerne/Wyoming AAA service area.
“Affordable housing is an issue facing our aging population in every corner of the Commonwealth. Innovative housing projects like ECHO cottages are but one of the alternatives we need to consider when trying to find solutions for this growing concern. These cottages support independence and provide privacy for older adults whose families may have been considering long-term care placement for their loved ones. More importantly, they reduce stress on the caregiver and preserve the dignity and independence of the older adult,” said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. “I would like to thank P4A, our housing partners, and the Area Agencies on Aging, for their ongoing partnership with the Department to support this important initiative.”
Elder cottages are small, separate, manufactured residences for older adults that are temporarily placed in the side or backyard of a host family (relatives or close friends). The arrangement provides autonomy for its resident along with easy access to family or friends who can provide assistance. When living requirements of the resident change, the cottage will be relocated to the home of another host family. All seniors served are lower income and pay no more than 30% of their monthly incomes to reside in the cottage. The cottages will be made available through a local collaboration between the AAAs and a local housing partner.
“Increasing safe and affordable housing for older adults in Pennsylvania is always a top priority for P4A. We are so appreciative for our Area Agency on Aging and Housing partners that help us make opportunities like the ECHO project a reality. These partnerships are what makes it possible to enhance accessible and adaptable housing for older adults to enable them to live independently in their communities,” said Rebecca May-Cole, executive director of P4A.
In 2018, Clearfield County AAA became the first in Pennsylvania to provide an elder cottage. This initiative garnered national recognition from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), now known as USAging.
With this grant announcement, the ECHO project has now expanded into 10 AAA service areas, including:
- Centre
- Huntingdon/Bedford/Fulton
- Lackawanna
- Union/Snyder
- Washington/Fayette/Green
- Wayne
- Westmoreland
Learn more about the housing opportunities available for older adults on the Department of Aging’s website.
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