The Comprehensive Housing Taskforce 2012, convened by Mayor Gray, is expected to release its report in early 2013. The goal of the taskforce is to “help city leaders ensure the creation of more affordable housing for residents of the District of Columbia,” said Mayor Gray. The taskforce was chaired by Harry D. Sewell, Executive Director and CEO, of the DC Housing Finance Agency and Deborah Ratner Salzberg, president of Forest City Washington, Inc.

Although LeadingAge DC was disappointed that the Mayor did not include a representative of the senior housing community as a member of the taskforce given the major impact that affordable, supportive housing has on the District’s aging population, we expect the report to offer helpful recommendations that will benefit seniors. LeadingAge DC joined the DC Senior Advisory Coalition in a letter to the taskforce chairs urging them to address the need for increased affordable supportive housing production, preservation of existing affordable housing and the promotion of housing visitability standards in the District to facilitate aging-in-place.