B’nai B’rith International lauds Congress for passing a bill that will vastly improve the ability of sponsors of affordable housing for seniors under the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program, to update their existing facilities and improve their services to senior residents. B’nai B’rith has strongly advocated for passage of this bill on behalf the Senior Housing Network.“This law will allow us to continue to provide and to improve the high-quality environment seniors living in our facilities experience,” B’nai B’rith International President Dennis W. Glick said. “The new provision to improve our ability to provide access to additional care services will allow many residents to stay in their homes longer.”

In addition to improving access to health services, the law will also allow owners to more easily refinance properties in need of renovation and convert studio apartments into more accommodating one-bedroom apartments. The new law will also provide rental assistance for seniors need help if refinancing results in payment increases.

“We’ve been involved in the housing field for almost 40 years,” B’nai B’rith International Director of the Center for Senior Services Mark Olshan said. “This bill will allow us the flexibility to maintain our existing properties and to rehabilitate and upgrade the facilities that have served our communities so well over the years.”

The B’nai B’rith Senior Housing Network consists of 38 apartment buildings in 26 communities and is home to more than 7,500 seniors of limited income without regard to race, religion, or country of national origin.