Harrisburg, PA – Following Governor Josh Shapiro’s visit to the Farnam Street East apartment building in Lancaster – an affordable housing complex for seniors and Pennsylvanians with disabilities – the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging (P4A), announced that $425,000 of the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) funding will be invested in two innovative housing programs that help older adults stay in their homes and communities.
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) provided a $225,000 grant for the expansion of the Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO), which will fund the construction of a cottage in Perry County. PHFA also awarded a $200,000 grant to facilitate and expand the Shared Housing and Resource Exchange (SHARE) initiative, which is currently operating in 14 counties.
“Affordable housing remains an issue facing our aging population in every corner of the Commonwealth. Innovative housing projects like ECHO cottages and the SHARE program are two beneficial alternatives that we need to highlight when trying to find solutions for this growing concern. These housing programs support independence and dignity of older adults while allowing them to age in their own homes and their communities,” said Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich. “I would like to thank P4A, our housing partners, and the 52 Area Agencies on Aging, for their ongoing partnership with the Department to support these important initiatives.”
In addition to these investments, Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2025-26 budget proposal also prioritizes older Pennsylvanians by including $50 million to help them update and stay in their homes while also addressing blighted buildings and declining property values. The Governor’s budget proposal also includes $2 million so the Department can increase accountability and oversight of the AAAs and a $20 million investment for those AAAs so they can continue to provide key services to older adults.
Elder cottages are small, separate, manufactured residences for older adults that are temporarily placed in the side or backyard of a host family (relatives or close friends). The arrangement provides autonomy for its resident along with easy access to family or friends who can provide assistance. When living requirements of the resident change, the cottage will be relocated to the home of another host family. All seniors served are lower income and pay no more than 30% of their monthly incomes to reside in the cottage. The cottages will be made available through a local collaboration between the AAAs and a local housing partner.
SHARE is an affordable housing choice that brings together home hosts who have extra room in their home with home seekers who are looking for housing, in exchange for rent, help around the house, or a combination of both. Program participants must be at least 18 years of age and one of the individuals in the match must be over 60.
“Increasing safe and affordable housing for older adults in Pennsylvania is always a top priority for P4A. We are so appreciative for our Area Agency on Aging and Housing partners that help us make opportunities like the ECHO project and the SHARE program a reality. These partnerships are what makes it possible to enhance accessible and adaptable housing for older adults to enable them to live independently in their communities," said Rebecca May-Cole, executive director of P4A.
With this grant announcement, the ECHO project has now expanded into 10 AAA service areas, including:
- Centre
- Clearfield
- Cumberland
- Fayette
- Huntingdon/Bedford/Fulton
- Lackawanna
- Luzerne/Wyoming
- Perry
- Union/Snyder
- Wayne
The SHARE program is currently in the following 14 counties:
- Allegheny
- Bucks
- Carbon
- Crawford
- Lackawanna
- Lehigh
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Northampton
- Northumberland
- Pike
- Snyder
- Union
- Wayne