Guiding Principles of Public Policy

1) National Church Residences Public Policy Priorities will be strategically aligned with National Church Residences mission to provide high-quality housing and health care in all our communities. All priorities are grounded in our core values:

• Mission: We are driven by a deep sense that our work should serve God and always produce good for others.
• Compassion: We truly care about people and seek to treat residents, employees, and neighbors with dignity, respect, and fairness.
• Professionalism: We strive to be excellent at what we do and to be sound managers of resources with solid, ethical business practices.
• Leadership: We will be leaders in our field: setting a good example for others, visionary, growing, and constantly improving.

2) National Church Residences Public Policy Priorities must advance National Church Residences’ strategic plan, as adopted annually by its board of directors.

3) National Church Residences Public Policy Priorities, progress of National Church Residences Public Policy Priorities, and return on investment of National Church Residences Public Policy Priorities will be presented annually to the board of directors.

4.) Consistent with National Church Residences best of class standards, National Church Residences Public Policy priorities will be implemented with the highest level of integrity and operational excellence, and will support innovative leadership and effective collaboration with partners.

5.) National Church Residences Public Policy Priorities will advance societal improvements for seniors, housing and health care, and will strive to educate the public on the importance of always producing good for others.

6.) In a time of rapidly changing finance sources for health care and housing, National

Church Residences Public Policy Priorities will:

• Support preservation of our existing housing and health care portfolio;
• Support expansion of housing and health care opportunities;
• Advance housing as a platform for health care.

FY2020-21 Public Policy Priorities

PRESERVATION & EXPANSION OF HOUSING

To continue to provide safe, decent and affordable housing to the growing number of seniors and vulnerable individuals across the U.S., our public policy priorities are to:

• Protect the Low Income Housing Tax Credit in federal tax reform and advance efforts to strengthen the Tax Credit.
• Advance preservation solutions for aging HUD 202 portfolios (“RAD for PRAC”).
• Advance new HUD 202 capital pilot program for new production of service-enriched affordable senior housing (S.E.A.L.).
• Protect rental assistance funding.
• Advocate for best practices across states in Qualified Allocation Plans.
• Advocate for increased state and local resources for affordable housing and address policy-related barriers inhibiting development in core housing markets.

PRESERVATION & EXPANSION OF HEALTH CARE

To continue to provide health and wellness services to the growing number of seniors and vulnerable individuals across Ohio and expanding into other states, our public policy priorities are to:

• Protect and expand home and community-based service programs, both in National Church Residences’ housing and in the community.
• Protect and increase reimbursement rates to provide quality care to clients and to support the workforce living wage initiative.
• Expand innovative care opportunities for seniors and vulnerable populations within the managed care environment.
• Protect Medicaid expansion and health care access for our residents in health care reform efforts.

HOUSING AS A PLATFORM FOR HEALTH CARE

As seniors age, they need a variety of health-related supports and services to maintain their independence and quality of life. However, there are few viable alternatives that fully address the dual need for quality, affordable housing and health services specifically for seniors. National Church Residences, as a provider of both, is in a unique position to advance housing as a platform for health care, developing options for low-income seniors and vulnerable individuals to remain healthy at home for as long as possible. This includes advancing public policy priorities to:

• Grow and lead health outcomes measurement in housing to demonstrate housing as a platform for improved health and healthcare savings.
• Advance innovative health care resources as a capital source of funding for affordable housing with services.
• Protect and expand Service Coordinator funding.
• Protect and develop Service Enriched Housing models.
• Develop and advance Permanent Supportive Housing models, with a focus on vulnerable elderly.