Goal 1: Economic Opportunity & Security

Every older individual across Massachusetts can meet their basic financial needs

Goal 1 Strategies	Goal 1 Actions
Ensure that local and statewide housing planning specifically contemplates provision for affordable, accessible, and supportive senior housing and housing options.	Work toward policies that prioritize the development and availability of affordable housing options including supportive housing, single-story housing, 55+ communities, multigenerational housing, more Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and address long waitlists for subsidized housing Develop new production of moderate-income housing for older people through new cross-sector financial partnerships and exploration of a loan product Explore a housing bridge subsidy program for eligible applicants who are on a waitlist for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) and the expansion of the MRVP
Support the enhancement of programs that alleviate cost of living burdens (e.g., fuel assistance, tax abatement, nutrition security programs, etc.) for older adults.	Map statewide programs that alleviate cost of living burdens (e.g., Home Energy Assistance, Senior Nutrition Program, SHINE, SNAP benefits including medical expenses etc.) and analyze potential enhancements of these programs Investigate increasing the property tax abatement limit for people over age 60 who provide volunteer services to their city or town Provide tools to cities and towns to promote accessibility of local tax relief programs, including property tax and utilities Support programmatic approaches to reduce older adults’ transit costs (such as affordable microtransit, or the MassDOT and Regional Transportation Authorities (RTAs) partnership to pilot fare-affordability transit programs for older adults)
Develop opportunities for economic stability and economic mobility, particularly among older adults who experienced significant systemic inequities throughout their lives.	Investigate a Senior Area Median Income (AMI) to allow for more older adults on fixed incomes to qualify for services Investigate the expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to include unpaid caregivers of older adults
Promote the adoption of age-friendly employment practices across business and industry (including flexible work options, and support for caregivers), and elevate the best practices of age-friendly employers.	Encourage age-friendly employer policies which include acknowledgement and support of caregivers Support automated savings programs that make it easy for small businesses and their employees to automatically enroll in retirement savings plans Promote and celebrate age-friendly employer best practices (e.g., specific policies and practices from age-friendly universities, health systems, and businesses)
Encourage the development of opportunities for volunteering, lifelong learning, and civic participation of older adults.	Develop partnerships between Councils on Aging (COAs) and other community-based organizations and Community Colleges to increase older adults’ access to education for those interested in reskilling for encore careers or following new educational interests Support avenues for older adults who want to change or advance careers, including existing state programs that pay for community college Use successful civic engagement strategies (e.g., Boston’s Senior Civic Academy model) to create further civic engagement opportunities for older adults throughout the Commonwealth Increase education and awareness of scams, fraud, and financial exploitation of older adults
Partner with community-based organizations to promote awareness of public benefits to support income security, as well as the availability of assistance and resources to apply for these benefits.	Develop more educational tools to assist people to plan for a longer life including saving for retirement, establishing social supports, and navigating the healthcare landscape

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