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More than 2.7 million children in the United States are being raised by grandparents and other relatives. These numbers have climbed due to the opioid and COVID-19 pandemics.
U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, and Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) have introduced the Grandfamily Housing Act, legislation that would improve housing for grandfamilies.
Many grandparents and kinship caregivers step in when parents are no longer able to care for their children and often live in intergenerational housing units.
Approximately 1 in 5 grandfamilies live at or below the federal poverty line, and fewer than one-third of eligible grandfamilies receive housing assistance.
The majority of subsidized and market-rate senior residences do not permit children to live in their buildings, which makes existing intergenerational housing units even more critical.
“Grandparents and caregivers who take up the mantle to raise children and provide them with safe and stable homes should be supported every step of the way,” Casey said.
“This legislation would ensure grandfamilies are able to live in homes that are safe and accessible and ensure both older adults and younger children alike can thrive in their communities.”
The Grandfamily Housing Act would:
- Authorize the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to award grants to nonprofits and local housing authorities to finance the upkeep and retrofitting of intergenerational housing and communal spaces
- Help housing providers employ a grandfamily resident service coordinator to offer onsite intergenerational services, such as afterschool programming, tutoring, and healthcare services
- Enable housing providers to offer events for intergenerational families in the community
U.S. Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA-2) and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7) will introduce companion legislation in the House.
“Raising a child is challenging enough, but for grandparents it can be especially daunting,” Collins said. “Yet so many grandparents are stepping in to provide care and stability for their grandchildren.”
However, few intergenerational housing programs have the support and resources to address the unique needs of grandfamilies.
“Our bill recognizes the unique challenges faced by grandparents who have taken on the role of caregiver and aims to provide them with the necessary resources to succeed,” Collins said.