Seattle Human Services Department Aging and Disability Services, Seattle, WA
The Seattle Area Agency on Aging (AAA), known locally as Aging and Disability Services (ADS), is housed within the City of Seattle, Human Services Department. The department includes a Federal Grants Management Unit responsible for the distribution, management and oversight of four HUD grants on behalf of the City of Seattle:
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
- Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
- Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
- HOME Investment Partnerships Program
ADS receives a small amount of funding from CDBG to administer a home repair program for low-income older adults and people with disabilities. The purpose is to preserve affordable housing and prevent the loss of units by repairing or modifying homes so residents can remain safe in their homes.
A second HUD partnership involves ADS’ work with housing authorities. ADS provides housing service coordination to support individuals with disabilities in securing stable housing in collaboration with the Housing Access and Services Program (HASP), a HUD-funded program managed by the King County Housing Authority. In its role, ADS connects eligible older adults and people with disabilities to HASP, helping participants navigate housing vouchers and supportive services to maintain long-term housing stability.
For the past 20 years, ADS has also provided on-site case management for 52 Seattle Housing Authority senior and high-rise buildings, helping residents access long-term support and services. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this partnership expanded to address heightened challenges for residents, including wellness check-ins, connecting residents to food resources, and safe delivery of services.
ADS is also deeply involved in transportation, made possible through funding from the State’s Senior Citizens Services Act, Title III-B OAA funding, and the City of Seattle’s General Fund. ADS currently funds three community-based transportation programs that help older adults and adults with disabilities reach essential destinations, primarily for health care and food access.
While ADS does not use CDBG or HASP funding as a match for federal transportation grants, it does maintain a high level of involvement in regional housing discussions, including those related to transit-oriented development (TOD) projects.
First, the region’s long-range growth plan (Vision 2050) and the city’s Comprehensive Plan both contain plans for TOD. ADS staff have been engaged in conversations at both regional and local levels, serving on the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) transportation board and the Coordinated Mobility and Accessibility Committee, as well as the city’s Comprehensive Plan workgroup. In these spaces, the AAA’s main role has been to advocate for the accessibility of services and infrastructure.
ADS’s advocacy efforts have been complemented by the Northwest Universal Design Council, a group of community advocates and design professionals committed to advancing accessible design in all spaces, including home and transit areas. A key focus has been to encourage new housing (much of which is planned for high-capacity transit areas) to be built with universal design standards, where possible.
While ADS is engaged in several transportation coalitions and local efforts where TOD is a focus, the connection between transportation programs and TOD is still evolving. Nonetheless, ADS continues to engage in these efforts to ensure that the transportation and housing needs of older adults are reflected in regional planning and policy decisions.