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Even subsidized housing is becoming too expensive for some lower-income seniors in Fairfax County, prompting officials to explore additional support as the region’s aging population grows.
“We’re starting to see some disconnect,” Fairfax County Department of Housing and Community Development Director Tom Fleetwood told the Board of Supervisors’ housing committee on July 8.
Fairfax County has nearly 3,500 affordable senior housing units, most operated by private companies or nonprofit organizations. Another 505 units belong to the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which also runs 112 licensed assisted-living beds.
Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk said the available housing has been designed to serve seniors well, even if the supply remains insufficient.
“It’s really important that our community members know that the type of housing being built for our seniors is impressive,” Lusk said.
County staff are considering several ways to make housing more attainable for seniors with limited incomes. One approach would support affordable developments aimed at residents at the lowest end of the area median income, with proposals evaluated individually.
Officials could also provide more supplemental assistance to prevent seniors from being overwhelmed by housing expenses. Fleetwood said the work remains preliminary and offered no timeline for presenting specific proposals.
Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, who chairs the committee, said government programs alone cannot close the affordability gap.
“There’s only so much we can do through official channels,” she said, calling for broader community involvement.
Fairfax County’s development pipeline includes about 210 additional affordable units designated for seniors. However, officials expect demand to keep rising as the county’s senior population expands and its median age increases.
The pressure could become especially severe in assisted-living facilities across Northern Virginia, where providing care to residents of modest means has become increasingly difficult.
On June 30, the nonprofit organization overseeing Arlington’s Culpepper Garden announced that it would phase out assisted living because of rising costs. The Ballston-area complex has served lower-income seniors since 1975.
“The cost of care has just become monumental,” said Marta Hill Gray, CEO of the Arlington Retirement Housing Corporation. “It’s just not sustainable.”
Residents and their families will have at least a year to secure other arrangements. Hill Gray said the organization is examining every available option and wants to give residents adequate time to prepare.
Culpepper Garden plans to convert its assisted-living units into independent apartments, adding to the complex’s existing inventory of more than 270 independent-living units.