OPHI worked with the Health Impact Project and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (Boston) to conduct an HIA of proposed changes to HUD’s Designated Housing Rule (DHR). The DHR allows Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) to designate housing for elderly or non-elderly disabled persons to ensure that these populations have access to safe and affordable housing. Currently over 200 PHAs use the Designated Housing Rule as a way to more effectively meet their communities’ housing needs and better connect residents with necessary social and medical services.
This HIA examines how a proposed elderly and disabled designated housing rule change could affect the health of low-income and disabled individuals and households, considering the possible administrative effects of a proposed rule change for PHAs and the community health and social supports for elderly and disabled designated housing populations.