Public Policy Principles

Our Strategic Public Policy Framework

National Church Residences is committed to advancing public policy that strengthens communities and improves the lives of seniors across the nation. Each public policy initiative we champion is strategically aligned with our mission and grounded in our core values.

Through direct engagement with elected officials, collaboration with industry associations, and strategic partnerships, we work to protect vital funding programs, expand housing and healthcare opportunities, and advance innovative solutions for older adults. Our public policy priorities are designed to create lasting positive change while supporting the seniors we serve.

Our Guiding Principles of Public Policy

National Church Residences public policy priorities are strategically aligned with our mission to provide high-quality care, services, and communities for seniors. All public policy initiatives are grounded in our core values of Purposeful Service, Compassion, Inclusion, Excellence, and Servant Leadership.

Our public policy priorities must advance our strategic plan, as adopted annually by our board of directors. These priorities, their progress, and return on investment are presented annually for comprehensive review and assessment.

Consistent with our best-in-class standards, each public policy initiative is implemented with the highest level of integrity and operational excellence, supporting innovative leadership and effective collaboration with partners. Our public policy work advances societal improvements for older adults, housing and health care, while educating the public on the importance of creating positive outcomes for others.

In today’s rapidly changing financial landscape, our public policy initiatives support preservation and expansion of housing and health care opportunities, and advancing housing as a platform for health care.

Public Policy Priorities

National Church Residences provides high quality care, services and communities for more than 60,000 seniors in 25 states. Our continuum of communities and services work with governmental programs at federal, state and local levels. Through a combination of engagement with our industry associations and direct relationship building with elected officials and regulators, we advocate on policy issues in two over-arching categories: Affordable Service-Enriched Housing Expansion & Preservation and Senior Health Care Sustainability & Expansion.

Affordable Service Enriched Housing Expansion & Preservation

1. Protect the Low Income Housing Tax Credit in federal tax reform and advance efforts to strengthen the Federal Tax Credit and State Tax Credit Programs.
2. Advance preservation solutions for aging HUD 202 portfolios (“RAD for PRAC”) and a restore funding for new HUD 202 production.
3. Protect rental assistance funding (i.e. Section 8, PBRA, PRAC).
4. Advocate for best practices across states in Qualified Allocation Plans.
5. Advocate for increased state and local resources for affordable housing and address policy-related barriers inhibiting development in core housing markets.
6. Protect and expand Service Coordinator funding.

Senior Health Care Sustainability & Expansion

1. Protect and expand home and community-based service programs, both in National Church Residences’ housing and in the community.
2. Protect and increase reimbursement rates to provide quality care to clients and to support living wage for our workforce.
3. Expand innovative care opportunities for older adults and vulnerable populations within the managed care environment.
4. Protect Medicaid expansion and health care access for our residents in health care reform efforts.
5. Grow and lead health outcomes measurement in housing to demonstrate housing as a platform for improved health and healthcare savings.
6. Advance innovative health care resources as a capital source of funding for affordable housing with services.
7. Seek solutions for affordable Internet and access to telehealth.

National Church Residences continues to proudly serve seniors and vulnerable populations. Recent Executive Orders relating to HUD have created short-term uncertainty, but we’re working closely with advocacy groups to ensure our lawmakers understand the critical importance federal funding and benefits programs have for our seniors, their families, and staff.