Item 3: Focus Area Three — original pdf

Backup

Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Last Updated: July 9, 2026 August 24, 2026 Focus Area Three: Housing & Economic Security Aligns with Domains: 3-Housing and 6-Civic Engagement & Employment Housing & Economic Security Aligns with Domains: Housing, Civic Engagement & Employment This focus area recognizes that safe, affordable housing and economic stability are the foundation of aging in place. It consolidates housing and employment to tackle the intense financial pressures older adults face in a rapidly changing, increasingly expensive landscape. With nearly 30% of housed seniors worrying about losing their homes, and utility insecurity disproportionately affecting seniors with disabilities and communities of color, basic economic survival is a pressing challenge. By also addressing the 19% of older adults who desire to work but cannot find employment, this section comprehensively targets the financial and residential stability required for Austin's seniors to thrive. Goal 1: Increase housing security and access to home modification and repair programs to support seniors aging in place. Objective 1: Increase annual participation in city-funded home repair and modification programs for older adults. Strategy 1: Develop multi-lingual outreach campaigns to bridge the gap between service awareness and access. Partners: Austin Housing, APH, ACE, ASC Deadline: 2027 Metrics: Translated materials created Outreach campaign launched. Strategy 2: Prioritize housing interventions that specifically address the top home repair and modification needs identified by Excerpted from: July 9, 2026 Final Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Page 1 of 11 August 1124, 2026 Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Last Updated: July 9, 2026 August 24, 2026 Focus Area Three: Housing & Economic Security Aligns with Domains: 3-Housing and 6-Civic Engagement & Employment seniors: pest control, grab bars/handrails, ramps, and accessible showers. Partners: Austin Housing, Meals on Wheels, Rebuilding Together. Deadline: 2028 Metrics: Annual # of targeted home modifications completed. Strategy 3: Conduct a geographic gap analysis of city-funded home repair programs to identify underserved neighborhoods and populations. Partners: Austin Housing, APH. Deadline: 2027 Metric: Gap analysis completed. Excerpted from: July 9, 2026 Final Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Page 2 of 11 August 1124, 2026 Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Last Updated: July 9, 2026 August 24, 2026 Focus Area Three: Housing & Economic Security Aligns with Domains: 3-Housing and 6-Civic Engagement & Employment Goal 1: Increase housing security and access to home modification and repair programs to support seniors aging in place. (continued) Objective 1: Increase annual participation in city-funded home repair and modification programs for older adults. (continued) Strategy 4: Prioritize outreach to seniors with disabilities on available home modification assistance programs. Partners: Austin Housing, APR, APL Deadline: Ongoing Metric: Annual # of platforms or events promoting home modification assistance programs prioritizing seniors with disabilities. Strategy 5: Promotion of programs to seniors, caregivers, and city council districts identified with the highest need. Partners: APH, Austin Housing, Community Ambassadors, APR, APL Deadline: Ongoing 2027 Metric: Annually % increase in utilization of City and/or City funded home repair and modification programs. Strategy 6: Pair home repair initiatives with local economic development by creating a grant or incentive program for hyper- local, small businesses to become certified contractors for City-funded senior home modifications. Partners: Austin Housing, AED. Deadline: 2028 Metrics: # of hyper-local businesses participating as certified contractors. $ amount invested back into local businesses through created programs. Excerpted from: July 9, 2026 Final Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Page 3 of 11 August 1124, 2026 Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Last Updated: July 9, 2026 August 24, 2026 Focus Area Three: Housing & Economic Security Aligns with Domains: 3-Housing and 6-Civic Engagement & Employment Goal 1: Increase housing security and access to home modification and repair programs to support seniors aging in place. (continued) Objective 2: Expand and promote permanent supportive housing options for seniors with on-site wraparound services. Strategy 1: Create a catalog of existing permanent supportive housing options for 55+ individuals and promote via platforms such as the Austin Senior Services Hub and the Age Friendly newsletter and distribute in print. Partners: Austin Housing, APH, ECHO, Deadline: 2027 Metrics: Catalog created. # of platforms and events where permanent supportive housing options for seniors are promoted. Strategy 2: Track housing retention, health outcomes, and reduced reliance on crisis services to demonstrate the value of permanent supportive housing for older adults. Partners: APH, ECHO. Deadline: Ongoing Metric: Housing retention rate for seniors in permanent supportive housing. Strategy 3: Monitor proposed supportive housing developments and look at need to advocate for policies and funding that meet future senior housing needs. Partners: Austin Housing, ECHO, Foundation Communities, Family Eldercare, Commission on Aging Deadline: ongoing Metrics: Annually # of policy recommendations submitted Annually amount of funding dedicated to senior housing needs. Excerpted from: July 9, 2026 Final Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Page 4 of 11 August 1124, 2026 Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Last Updated: July 9, 2026 August 24, 2026 Focus Area Three: Housing & Economic Security Aligns with Domains: 3-Housing and 6-Civic Engagement & Employment Goal 1: Increase housing security and access to home modification and repair programs to support seniors aging in place. (continued) Objective 2: Expand and promote permanent supportive housing options for seniors with on-site wraparound services. (continued) Strategy 4: Conduct a utilization audit of recently funded affordable senior housing units to identify and address the root causes of high vacancy rates. Partners: Austin Housing, Austin Homeless Strategy and Operations Deadline: 2027 Metrics: Audit completed. % decrease in vacancy rates at senior properties. Objective 3: Assist older adults with the financial and legal resources needed to manage property taxes and preserve generational wealth. Strategy 1: Promote awareness of existing tax break opportunities available to help older Austinites stay in their homes. Partners: ACE, APH, Travis County Central Appraisal District (TCAD), Austin Housing, APR, APL Deadline: Ongoing Metrics : # of outreach events where existing tax break opportunities information is provided to older adults. Strategy 2: Partner with legal aid organizations and financial organizations to educate seniors on the implications of tax deferrals and estate planning. Partners: Austin Housing, APL, APR Deadline: 2028 Metrics : # of workshops held Excerpted from: July 9, 2026 Final Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Page 5 of 11 August 1124, 2026 Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Last Updated: July 9, 2026 August 24, 2026 Focus Area Three: Housing & Economic Security Aligns with Domains: 3-Housing and 6-Civic Engagement & Employment # of older adults receiving 1 on 1 counseling. Goal 1: Increase housing security and access to home modification and repair programs to support seniors aging in place. (continued) Strategy 3: Collaborate with TCAD and other community partners to host annual workshops that assist seniors with protesting property appraisals to prevent unmanageable tax increases. Partners: TCAD, APH, APR, APL Deadline: Ongoing Metric : # of workshops hosted. Goal 2: Increase access to economic and Age-Friendly employment opportunities. Objective 1: Launch a citywide Austin Age-Friendly Business Program. Strategy 1: Provide tools and develop materials to assist businesses in becoming age friendly. Partners: AED, Austin Chamber of Commerce, APH. Deadline: 2027 Metric: # of business annually certified as age friendly. Strategy 2: Create a checklist for businesses that outlines environment and communication needs that create an ideal work environment for older adults. Partners: AED, Commission on Aging, APH . Deadline: 2027 Excerpted from: July 9, 2026 Final Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Page 6 of 11 August 1124, 2026 Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Last Updated: July 9, 2026 August 24, 2026 Focus Area Three: Housing & Economic Security Aligns with Domains: 3-Housing and 6-Civic Engagement & Employment Metric: Checklist finalized and published. Goal 2: Increase access to economic and Age-Friendly employment opportunities. (continued) Strategy 3: Maintain a registry of businesses who are designed as Age-Friendly and promote these businesses on the Austin Senior Services Hub. Partners: AED, APH. Deadline: 2028 Metrics: # of businesses listed on the registry. # of page views on the registry. Objective 2: Provide seniors with the information and education needed to access employment opportunities. Strategy 1: Promote training and coaching programs, job fairs, and skill building opportunities for seniors. Partners: Workforce Solutions Capital Area, SCSEP, AARP, Austin Human Resources (AHR). Deadline: Ongoing Metric: # of programs and job fairs promoted. Strategy 2: Increase access to technology training and devices to improve workplace digital skills. Partners: APL, APH, Austin Free Net, APR, AHR. Deadline: 2028 Metrics: # of digital literacy sessions held. # of devices distributed. Excerpted from: July 9, 2026 Final Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Page 7 of 11 August 1124, 2026 Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Last Updated: July 9, 2026 August 24, 2026 Focus Area Three: Housing & Economic Security Aligns with Domains: 3-Housing and 6-Civic Engagement & Employment Goal 2: Increase access to economic and Age-Friendly employment opportunities. (continued) Strategy 3: Link Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) and Workforce Solutions with community partners to promote employment services. Partners: SCSEP, Workforce Solutions Capital Area, APH, AED, Community Ambassadors, APL, APR Deadline: 2029 Metric: # of partnerships made annually between senior employment programs and community partners. Strategy 4: Disseminate anti-ageism education and promote Age-Friendly employer policies. Partners: AED, Austin Civil Rights Office, AEI. Deadline: Ongoing Metrics: Materials created and/or identified. # of businesses adopting Age-Friendly policies. Strategy 5: Ensure seniors have available information on transportation options to safely and reliably commute to Age-Friendly employment opportunities. Partners: AED, CapMetro, ATPW, CARTS. Deadline: 2028 Metric: Integrate transportation information for employment into both printed materials and digital platforms (ex. Austin Senior Services Hub). Excerpted from: July 9, 2026 Final Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Page 8 of 11 August 1124, 2026 Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Last Updated: July 9, 2026 August 24, 2026 Focus Area Three: Housing & Economic Security Aligns with Domains: 3-Housing and 6-Civic Engagement & Employment Goal 3: Enhance utility affordability and housing assistance programs for older adults. Objective 1: Reduce utility insecurity among seniors. Strategy 1: Expand outreach for the Customer Assistance Program (CAP) and Weatherization Assistance Program with materials in multiple languages. Partners: Austin Energy (AE), AEI, ACE, Austin Climate Action and Resilience (ACR). Deadline: 2028 Metric: # of translated outreach materials developed. Strategy 2: Offer in-person enrollment support for CAP and the Weatherization Assistance Program to make homes more energy efficient and reduce costs for seniors. Partners: AE, APH, Community Ambassadors, APL, APR Deadline: 2027 Metrics: # of workshops offered. % increase in senior enrollment in programs. Strategy 3: Assist seniors with utility rebates, prioritizing outreach to low income and seniors with disabilities. Partners: AE, APR, APL Deadline: 2027 Metrics: # of seniors assisted with rebate applications. Demographic breakdown of rebate recipients to ensure equitable distribution. Excerpted from: July 9, 2026 Final Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Page 9 of 11 August 1124, 2026 Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Last Updated: July 9, 2026 August 24, 2026 Focus Area Three: Housing & Economic Security Aligns with Domains: 3-Housing and 6-Civic Engagement & Employment Goal 3: Enhance utility affordability and housing assistance programs for older adults. (continued) Strategy 4: Educate seniors on preparing homes for extreme temperatures using preferred communication methods, including mailed printed materials and in person sharing. Partners: AE, AEM, APH, APL, APR Deadline: 2027 Metrics: # of extreme weather preparedness workshops held. # of physical/printed weatherization education kits distributed. Strategy 5: Improve automatic enrollment for utility assistance for eligible seniors. Partners: AE. Deadline: 2027 Metric: % increase in senior utility assistance enrollment via automatic enrollment. Objective 2: Prevent displacement and housing cost burden for older adults. Strategy 1: Establish and promote a dedicated rental assistance fund specifically for adults 55+ experiencing financial crises. Conduct focused outreach and promote rental assistance programs to adults 55+ experiencing financial crises. Partners: Austin Housing, APH, Foundation Communities, Family Eldercare, MOWCTX. Deadline: 2028 Metrics: # of seniors receiving emergency rental assistance annually. % of recipients maintaining their housing 6 months after receiving assistance. Excerpted from: July 9, 2026 Final Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Page 10 of 11 August 1124, 2026 Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Last Updated: July 9, 2026 August 24, 2026 Focus Area Three: Housing & Economic Security Aligns with Domains: 3-Housing and 6-Civic Engagement & Employment Goal 3: Enhance utility affordability and housing assistance programs for older adults. (continued) Strategy 2: Operationalize down payment assistance (DPA) programs for limited-equity cooperative share purchases to create shared-equity options. Partners: Boomers Collaborative Foundation, Commission on Aging, Austin Housing Finance Corporation, AH. Deadline: 2027 Metrics: DPA program guidance or administrative process for cooperative share purchases established, confirmed, or updated, as needed. # of seniors assisted through DPA for cooperative share purchases annually. Strategy 3: Streamline permitting and construction of Accessory Dwelling Unit’s (ADUs) by creating a gallery of pre-approved ADU designs and hosting workshops guiding homeowners through the phases of development to shorten review times and reduce permitting costs. Partners: AH, ADS, Commission on Aging. Deadline: 2027 Metrics: Reduction in average permit review time. # of pre-approved plans utilized by homeowners. # of workshop attendees. Strategy 4: Broaden housing support programs by including regular maintenance, housekeeping, and yard/lawn services in City-funded assistance programs. Partners: AH, MOWCTX, Rebuilding Together. Deadline: 2028 Metrics: Programs updated to include provision of regular maintenance, housekeeping, and yard/lawn services for older adults. # of seniors assisted annually. Excerpted from: July 9, 2026 Final Draft Age Friendly Austin Action Plan: 2026-2030 Page 11 of 11 August 1124, 2026