Reps. Beatty, Smith, and Bonamici Reintroduce Legislation to Expand Service Coordinator Workforce and Strengthen Federally Assisted Housing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) today announced the reintroduction of the Expanding Service Coordinators Act alongside Representatives Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.). The legislation would increase funding and make reforms to service coordinator programs, expanding the national workforce that connects residents of federally assisted housing with health care, nutrition, transportation, job training, education, and other critical services.

“Service coordinator programs are essential to providing Ohio families with critical social services like health care, food, transportation, and job training,” said Rep. Joyce Beatty. “These pivotal resources are vital to mobility and long-term development and have been underfunded for far too long. I’m proud to partner with Reps. Smith and Bonamici on the Expanding Service Coordinators Act to increase funding for these essential programs. By strengthening the service coordinator workforce, we can better support the professional, personal, and health needs of Ohioans in low-income housing—and take meaningful steps to prevent homelessness.”

“Service coordinators are essential to ensuring residents of federally assisted housing have the resources they need to thrive,” said Rep. Adam Smith. “These dedicated professionals help families and older adults navigate health care, access food and transportation, and connect with education and job training. But the demand for their support far outpaces the federal funding available. The Expanding Service Coordinators Act makes the long-overdue investments needed to grow and sustain this workforce so that more families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities can live independently, avoid homelessness, and achieve long-term stability.”

“Service coordinators play an essential role in federally subsidized housing, helping older adults, adults with disabilities, and families lead stable and fulfilling lives,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “Expanding opportunities like the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for service coordinators will bolster the workforce and expand service delivery for vulnerable community members. I am honored to advocate for the Expanding Service Coordinators Act with Reps. Smith and Beatty to support service coordinators in their work and to increase the number of service coordinators in communities across Oregon and the country.”

Endorsements

The Expanding Service Coordinators Act has been endorsed by more than two dozen national and local organizations, including:

• American Association for Service Coordinators
• King County Housing Authority
• Seattle Housing Authority
• Tacoma Housing Authority
• Council for Affordable Rural Housing
• LeadingAge
• Public Housing Authority Directors Association
• Council for Large Public Housing Authorities
• Connected Communities
• Compass Working Capital
• B’nai B’rith
• CSI Support & Development
• LifeSTEPS
• Local Initiatives Support Coalition
• New England Resident Service Coordinators Inc.
• New Hampshire Association of Professional Service Coordinators
• Massachusetts Association of Resident Service Coordinators in Housing
• Sage Advocacy and Services for LGBTQ+ Elders
• United Church Homes
• MJ Housing Services
• National Church Residences
• Embrace Living Communities
• WinnCompanies
• National Affordable Housing Managers Association
• AHEPA Senior Living
• National NeighborWorks Association
• Housing Assistance Council
• HumanGood

Statements of Support

“Every single community in this country needs more supported affordable housing. Whether you live in a city, suburb, or rural community, the older adults, families, persons with disabilities, veterans, and other vulnerable neighbors all have the same basic needs: to be healthy, happy, and housed. The Expanding Service Coordinators Act will do this by prioritizing the needs of older adults, empowering families with the resources they need to become self-sufficient, and growing supported affordable housing across the country… With this legislation, and the continued leadership of Representative Smith, we are one step closer to changing the narrative and making a substantial difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans across the country.”—Michelle Missler, President & CEO, American Association of Service Coordinators

“I applaud Congressman Smith for introducing this critical legislation, which recognizes the need to provide supportive and connecting services to people living in federally assisted housing. The extra support provided by a service coordinator can make all the difference for a family taking that next step toward economic independence, improved health, or maintained social wellbeing.”—Robin Walls, Executive Director/CEO, King County Housing Authority

“The Seattle Housing Authority appreciates Representative Smith introducing this legislation to increase funding for support service coordinators. We are continuing to see an increasing need for this type of service for our residents. We have first-hand experience that shows these types of partnerships, personal connections and culturally appropriate services make a difference in whether our residents struggle or thrive. We provide these services but resources fall far short of the need.”—Rod Brandon, Executive Director, Seattle Housing Authority

“We are happy to continue supporting the Congressman’s efforts to increase and incentivize the supportive services needed to stably house households. Placing a high value on the critical work that Service Coordinators perform while supporting their education is an admirable step.”—April Black, Executive Director, Tacoma Housing Authority

“On behalf of NAHMA, we applaud Representatives Smith, Beatty, and Bonamici for reintroducing the Expanding Service Coordinators Act. This essential legislation is a strategic investment in the people who make housing work—not only as shelter, but fostering communities where residents live healthy and fulfilling lives.”

“As owners and managers of affordable housing communities, we have long recognized service coordinators play a critical role in federally assisted housing by connecting residents, particularly older adults, people with disabilities, and working families—to the supportive services they need to thrive. By providing essential funding in FY2026 to FY2030, the bill ensures continued support for Section 202 program. It also creates targeted, three-year grant programs for HUD and USDA-assisted properties in underserved communities, including rural and persistent poverty areas. Additional investments for HRSA grants for LIHTC properties, and dedicated training funds—will enhance capacity and ensure coordinators are well-equipped. Provisions to protect coordinators from burdensome regulations, while maintaining accountability, strike an important balance. We also applaud the inclusion of Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, which will help recruit and retain qualified professionals in these roles.”

“This legislation is not only about programs—it’s about people. NAHMA urges bipartisan support to advance the Expanding Service Coordinators Act, reaffirming our shared commitment to affordable housing as a foundation in the health and stability of our nation’s most vulnerable residents.” —Kris Cook, CAE, CEO of National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA)

"New England Resident Service Coordinators Inc. (NERSC) supports the Expanding Service Coordinator Act, providing vital investments and expand the Service Coordinator Program to better support seniors and families."—Kate Cantwell, NERSC Executive Director

“We thank Representative Adam Smith for re-introducing this important legislation that will help support and better fund our nation’s service coordinator programs. Service coordinators play a critical role in ensuring seniors and individuals with disabilities have access to affordable assisted living and other social services. At NCAL, increasing the availability of affordable assisted living is one of our main priorities. We look forward to working with Congress on advancing the Expanding Services Coordinators Act and streamlining access to quality care.”—Christopher Donnellan, American Healthcare Association Senior Director

“I write to express my support and that of Wesley Living for the Expanding Service Coordinator Act. Through my 25 plus years of affordable housing, I have found that the most beneficial program for our resident’s welfare is the service coordinator program. Our service coordinators assist our residents in health care management, transportation, nutrition, smoking cessation, fitness, dementia support, fall prevention, and wellness as well as assisting residents in personal needs when necessary. Our service coordinators find outside organizations and volunteers who provide resources, money, time, and education which allow our seniors to age in place. There is a great return on investment for this program and the dollars that the government puts into the program are returned three-fold in savings on things like Medicare and Medicaid, and local funds expended on unnecessary ambulance and fire calls. Additionally, service coordinators prevent evictions which can be devastating to an elderly person and balloon operating costs for housing operators.”

“On the personal side, our service coordinators allow our residents to have a quality of life they otherwise would not experience. The programming that results in better health lifestyles provides for reduced falls, preventive health screening and timely treatment of disease before becoming debilitating. The program prevents large numbers of seniors from becoming prematurely institutionalized or in most cases, institutionalization at all. Service coordinators allow for the dignity of life our elderly residents deserve.”

“So, we strongly and enthusiastically recommend and support the passing of the Expanding Service Coordinator Act and appreciate Representative Smith’s work to enhance this program.”—Ron Budynas, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Wesley Housing Corporation

 “As an agency that provides Resident Services to over 100,000 individuals in more than 39,000 homes, LifeSTEPS supports expanding Service Coordinator legislation. Not only do Service Coordinators save millions by providing much needed housing stabilization services to those in poverty, they are a lifeline to saving billions in healthcare costs. Service coordination has proven that with proper support seniors can maintain their dignity and prevent premature placement in a Skilled Nursing Facility. Seniors want, need, and deserve to maintain their home and age in place.” —Beth Southorn, Executive Director, LifeSTEPS

“On behalf of The Massachusetts Association of Resident Service Coordinators in Housing (MARSCH) we strongly endorse your legislation to expand funding for Service Coordination.” —Donna L. Coyle, MARSCH President

“Once again, I am writing in support and to endorse the Expansion of the Service Coordinator Act.  HumanGood began employing resident service coordinators in our affordable housing communities in the 1990’s beginning with approximately 5 resident service coordinators.  With our continued growth, we now employ 70+ resident service coordinators in almost all of our 100+ communities in California, Washington, Oregon and Pennsylvania.  As an organization, we have come to know resident services as an invaluable component of property management. Our services team not only links our residents to supportive and medical services, but also provide case management to our most vulnerable population.  The program has evolved in the last fifteen years where the demands of the health and well being of our residents has grown substantially and we are striving to meet their needs so they can continue to age in place.  Necessary training on entitlement programs, dementia, mental health conditions, adult protective services, hospitalization and nursing home admission, mitigating isolation are some of the required trainings that enable our service coordinators to be equipped to empower residents to live independently and increase self-sufficiency.  Resident services provides a positive financial impact by reducing turnovers, evictions, property damage and helps address compliance issues.  We continue to find creative ways to expand our partnerships with county providers, educational institutions, health care providers to allow us to develop new approaches and resources to address our residents’ needs.”—Linda Coleman, VP of Resident Services for HumanGood

“On behalf of the New Hampshire Association of Professional Service Coordinators, I am writing to inform you our Association’s support and endorsement of the Expanding Service Coordinators Act.”—Karen Graveline, NHAPSC President

“We are committed to supporting and strengthening the service coordinator profession within affordable housing and elder care settings.  This matters as the number of older adults are rapidly increasing and many live in affordable housing without easy access to services.  Access to services and someone to assist residents in obtaining beneficial service supports has shown to improve the resident's quality of life; age in place with respect and dignity and decrease the financial burden on Medicaid and Medicare costs.”

“The demand far exceeds the supply of qualified service coordination professionals and Embrace Living Communities will continue to advocate for increased service coordination opportunities for the residents we are privileged to serve.”—Jennifer Truppa, Director of Social Services and Quality Assurance for Embrace Living Communities 

"Service Coordinators within federally assisted affordable housing support the most vulnerable of our society — aging adults and persons living with disabilities.  At National Church Residences our network of professionally trained Service Coordinators help residents connect with and navigate critical services, nutrition, and healthcare so that they may live securely and independently in the place they call home. The Expanding Service Coordinators Act would enhance this program so even more seniors would have access to this service and the resulting benefits on their quality of life. National Church Residences proudly endorses the Expanding Service Coordinators Act and thanks Representatives Smith, Beatty, and Bonamici for their leadership in reintroducing the act for 2025." —Brianna Mettler, SVP Senior Services & Senior Living, National Church Residences.

“The Expanding Service Coordinators Act will directly benefit residents in HUD senior affordable housing by increasing access to trained professionals who connect older adults with critical services such as healthcare, nutrition assistance, and social support. By providing dedicated support to navigate complex systems, the legislation helps residents maintain their independence while reducing the risk of unnecessary and more costly institutionalization. At United Church Homes, we have more than 3,000 older adults that have benefited from service coordinators in optimizing their existing resources and benefits, enabling them to live safely and comfortably in their homes for longer.” —Terry Spitznagel, Sr Ex VP, COO, United Church Homes

Background

Housing service coordinators are staff embedded in multifamily housing and public housing that provide a wide range of services including case management; the arrangement of transportation and appointments for health and personal care services; the facilitation of health and wellness programming; and the continuous assessment of resident needs.

Service coordinators help promote housing stability among a population that often faces housing insecurity and helps seniors and residents with high needs avoid institutionalized care.

Unfortunately, service coordinator programs are underfunded and underutilized. The two primary programs that fund service coordinators for residents of federally assisted housing are the Multifamily Housing Service Coordinator Program and the Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency Service Coordinator Program.

The Multifamily Housing Service Coordinator Program embeds staff in federally assisted housing to coordinate a wide field of services for older adults and people with disabilities like meal services, medication management, and transportation to appointments. Service coordinators create critical networks for residents to receive social services that can help them age in place.

The Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency program utilizes service coordinators to help families by arranging for meals, transportation, housekeeping, health and nutrition programs, case management, job training, and assistance with personal care. This program helps families in public housing navigate social services to access better job and educational opportunities.

The Expanding Service Coordinators Act would make critical investments and reforms to expand service coordinator programs to serve more people in federally assisted housing. Specifically, the bill would:

• Authorize $225 million annually (FY2026–FY2030) for covered service coordinator programs, including Section 202 properties, and continue existing congregate service grants.
   
• Create new 3-year grant programs for service coordinators in Section 202 housing (HUD) and Section 515 rural housing (USDA), with priorities for properties serving elderly or disabled residents and those in persistent poverty or underserved rural areas.
   
• Authorize $45 million annually (FY2026–FY2030) for the Resident Opportunity and Self-Sufficiency (ROSS) Service Coordinator Program in public and Indian housing.
   
• Provide $37 million in FY2026 through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to award 150 grants to Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties to fund service coordinators.
   
• Require a $2,500 annual training set-aside for each service coordinator and mandate annual reporting on training completed.
   
• Extend eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to service coordinators and protect grantees from new HUD requirements outside standard reporting, monitoring, and compliance.

Service coordinators are an underfunded resource in federally assisted housing. They help individuals navigate the complicated web of social services that can make the difference between a resident sinking or thriving. It is more important now than ever to invest in this critical workforce. 

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