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Last revised July 24, 2014 <br />cities, counties, regions, states and the nation respond to this pressing housing challenge is imperative, <br />and will by necessity draw on the collective drive to identify new funding resources and means of <br />development. <br />As people age, their housing needs and preferences <br />tend to change. Some seniors choose to move to a <br />downtown condo. Other seniors want to age in place, <br />close to their places of worship, friends, or family <br />members (especially grandchildren). To "age in place" <br />is a term that has come to represent the ability for <br />senior households to remain in either their current <br />housing or at least in their current community when <br />financial, health, or ability changes alter their specific <br />housing needs. Regardless of their preferences for <br />specific locations, most seniors share common <br />interests in less household maintenance, one -level or <br />accessible living, and easy access to nearby goods 2010 <br />and services, especially health care. Homes with <br />stairs, lots of space inside or outside to maintain, or other characteristics can pose challenges to an <br />older resident with arthritis or other chronic illnesses, dementia, hearing loss, or limited income. Some <br />seniors who want a different type of home in their community have trouble finding appropriate housing <br />where they want live. Are there adequate housing choices, including age -integrated options, available <br />for seniors to stay active, conveniently access goods and services, and/or be near friends and family? <br />299,000 <br />429,000 <br />491,009 <br />Households (age 65+) <br />Households (all other) <br />511111111 <br />2020 <br />2030 <br />2040 <br />Older households and households without children (whether young or old) are more likely to prefer <br />attached housing in walkable, amenity -rich neighborhoods. While many senior households want to age <br />in place, the massive increase in the senior population will magnify the impact of those seniors who <br />choose to move. Senior households are likely to want smaller, low -maintenance housing products, and <br />easy access to services and amenities. Most senior households live on limited incomes and have <br />greater interest in or need of rental housing options; this propensity increases with age. <br />Council role <br />• Encourage the use of flexible design principles in projects funded through the Livable <br />Communities Act. <br />Local role <br />• Locate new senior housing in places with access to services and amenities that seniors want <br />and need. <br />• Offer local homeowner rehabilitation programs that finance retrofitting existing housing to better <br />meet the needs of aging residents, particularly in areas that offer transportation options. <br />Align investments to support place -making, transit -oriented development and walkable <br />places <br />Vibrant communities express their natural, cultural, economic, and (historical) uniqueness in the built <br />environment, creating memorable places that reinforce local identity. Places that capture this potential <br />can differentiate themselves in the larger public imagination and in the real estate market. Place- <br />2040 HOUSING POLICY PLAN I METROPOLITAN COUNCIL <br />DRAFT RELEASED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Part II: Outcomes (Sustainability) I Page 36 <br />