IR-2020-105: Economic Impact Payments being sent by prepaid debit cards, arrive in plain envelope; IRS.gov answers frequently asked questions

As Economic Impact Payments continue to be successfully delivered, the Internal Revenue Service today reminds taxpayers that some payments are being sent by prepaid debit card. The debit cards arrive in a plain envelope from "Money Network Cardholder Services."

Nearly 4 million people are being sent their Economic Impact Payment by prepaid debit card, instead of paper check. The determination of which taxpayers received a debit card was made by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service, a part of the Treasury Department that works with the IRS to handle distribution of the payments.

Those who receive their Economic Impact Payment by prepaid debit card can do the following without any fees.

• Make purchases online and at any retail location where Visa is accepted
• Get cash from in-network ATMs
• Transfer funds to their personal bank account
• Check their card balance online, by mobile app or by phone
• This free, prepaid card also provides consumer protections available to traditional bank account owners, including protection against fraud, loss and other errors.

Frequently asked questions continually updated on IRS.gov

The IRS has two sets of frequently asked questions to help Americans get answers about their Economic Impact Payments, including those arriving on prepaid debit card. These FAQs include answers to eligibility and other many common questions, including help to use two Economic Impact Payment tools.

Get My Payment (https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment), an IRS online tool, shows the projected date when a direct deposit has been scheduled or date when the payment will be mailed by check or prepaid debit card. The Non-Filers Enter Payment Info tool (https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here) helps taxpayers successfully submit basic information to receive Economic Impact Payments quickly.

The IRS regularly updates the Economic Impact Payment (https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/economic-impact-payment-information-center) and the Get My Payment (https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment) frequently asked questions pages on IRS.gov as more information becomes available. Taxpayers should check the FAQs often for the latest additions.

Here are answers to some of the top questions people are asking about the prepaid debit cards:

Can I have my economic impact payment sent to my prepaid debit card?

Maybe. It depends on your prepaid card and whether your payment has already been scheduled. Many reloadable prepaid cards have account and routing numbers that you could provide to the IRS through the Get My Payment application or Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool. You would need to check with the financial institution to ensure your card can be re-used and to obtain the routing number and account number, which may be different from the card number. If you obtained your prepaid debit card through the filing of a federal tax return, you must contact the financial institution that issued your prepaid debit card to get the correct routing number and account number. Do not use the routing number and account number shown on your copy of the tax return filed. When providing this information to the IRS, you should indicate that the account and routing number provided are for a checking account unless your financial institution indicates otherwise.

Will IRS be sending prepaid debit cards?

Some payments may be sent on a prepaid debit card known as The Economic Impact Payment Card The Economic Impact Payment Card is sponsored by the Treasury Department's Bureau of the Fiscal Service, managed by Money Network Financial, LLC and issued by Treasury's financial agent, MetaBank®, N.A.

If you receive an Economic Impact Payment Card, it will arrive in a plain envelope from "Money Network Cardholder Services." The Visa name will appear on the front of the Card; the back of the Card has the name of the issuing bank, MetaBank®, N.A. Information included with the Card will explain that the card is your Economic Impact Payment Card. Please go to EIPcard.com for more information.

Can I specifically ask the IRS to send the Economic Impact Payment to me as a debit card?

Not at this time. For those who don't receive their Economic Impact Payment by direct deposit, they will receive their payment by paper check, and, in a few cases, by debit card. The determination of which taxpayers receive a debit card will be made by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service (BFS), another part of the Treasury Department that works with the IRS to handle distribution of the payments. BFS is sending nearly 4 million debit cards to taxpayers starting in mid-May. At this time, taxpayers cannot make a selection to receive a debit card. Please go to EIPcard.com for more information.

Watch out for scams related to Economic Impact Payments
The IRS urges taxpayers to be on the lookout for scams related to the Economic Impact Payments. To use the new app or get information, taxpayers should visit IRS.gov. People should watch out for scams using email, phone calls or texts related to the payments. Be careful and cautious: The IRS will not send unsolicited electronic communications asking people to open attachments, visit a website or share personal or financial information. Remember, go directly and solely to IRS.gov for official information.

Quick links to the Frequently Asked Questions on IRS.gov:
Economic Impact Payments: www.irs.gov/eipfaq
Get My Payment tool: www.irs.gov/getmypaymentfaq
Please go to EIPcard.com for more information about prepaid debit cards.


Shared from https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/economic-impact-payments-being-sent-by-prepaid-debit-cards-arrive-in-plain-envelope-irsgov-answers-frequently-asked-questions 

Recreation COVID-19 News

All Town and School playing fields, courts, open space are now open with restrictions. Playgrounds are still closed until further notice.


Hello Franklin! We have created a Trails & Walking Paths site to serve as a resource to our community. During these unprecedented times, it is important to get outside & de-stress, while practicing social distancing! We hope you find it useful. Be well! https://bit.ly/3bDgozC

SNETT trail section in Bellingham

For additional info check out the Recreation tab in the coronavirus portal page
https://sites.google.com/view/recdeptcovid-19contests/home?authuser=1

https://sites.google.com/view/recdeptcovid-19contests/home?authuser=1

FM #277 School Committee - Community Relations SubComm 5/20/20 (audio)

FM #277 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 277 in the series.

This session shares the Community Relations SubCommittee (of the School Committee) held a meeting on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

SubCommittee chair Denise Spencer and members Anne Bergen, Judy Pfeffer participated. Anne Marie Tracey and Superintendent Sara Ahern participated during this session. Glenn Jones attended the meeting and used the “chat” function during the session, as I did.

Most of the discussion revolved around continuing the S’More newsletter service or using the Town account for Constant Contact. Details on contact listing, workflow, frequency (monthly/quarterly), info to be shared, etc.

Graphic on expanding roles of school personnel previewed during the meeting, soon to be used in communications. The graphic was shared via the screen but not yet released. (Actually released on 5/26/20 after this recorded was prepared for publication)  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/roles_in_education_-_final_version.pdf

The recording runs about 37 minutes, so let’s listen to the Communications SubCommittee meeting of May 20, 2020.   Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HNTF6jV7




--------------


We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!
------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Expanding Roles in Public Education Today

Memo to School Committee on FY 21 Budget Development

To: Franklin School Committee
From: Sara E. Ahern, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools 
Re: FY 21 Budget Development
Date: May 22, 2020

As you know, the Franklin School Committee adopted a budget of $68,767,873 on April 28, 2020, which represents a 6.03% increase over FY 20. The Town Administrator’s memo from May 1 indicates that revenue predicted in the Governor’s Budget from January would not support this budget and it would be anticipated that the School Committee would need to reduce it. According to this memo, the school department could expect an increased allocation from the Town amounting to $775,000 (although $275,000 would need to be earmarked towards substance abuse prevention efforts). An increase of $500,000 would leave a shortfall of $3.4 million.

Uncertainty remains about the FY 21 budget as economists are revising state-level revenue estimates, which are analyzed to be negatively impacted in light of the economic downturn experienced due to COVID-19 closures across the state. Towns and school districts across Massachusetts are preparing for reductions in state aid. The Town Administrator’s memo from May 21, 2020 outlines the potential impact of between 5-25% reductions to the Town of Franklin. It is not likely that we will know the state budget until summer.

Reductions to state aid would add to the shortfall already previewed at the last School Committee meeting. I estimate that this could amount to be between an additional $1-5 million in addition to the $3.4 million under the previous assumptions. A likely scenario would involve a 10% reduction to state aid bringing the shortfall to $ 5.4 million.

At the last School Committee meeting, I began to lay out a few areas to reduce the gap as well as their impact. We identified the following:

• Updated budget figures including anticipated Federal Funding through the CARES Act, prepaying special education tuition, applying additional revolving funds, and a decrease in costs based on revised budget projections in transportation, Human Resources, and Instructional Technology. Many of these items are short-term solutions. CARES Act funding is a one-time allocation, prepaying special education tuition creates a structural budget deficit for FY 22, and additional revolving funding is not always available each year.
• Reductions from the Critical Needs additions including the proposed REACH coordinator position and the proposed stipend for a Transition Specialist, resulting in less support towards these specialized services.
• Initial reductions to services including reducing the Teaching and Learning Office budget and reducing supplies and materials by 5% across all schools, meaning less professional development, curriculum development, and classroom supplies/materials.

I also previewed the likelihood of reducing positions across the district.

It is difficult to predict state aid numbers at this time but it is imperative that we plan now. In advance of the School Committee’s budget discussion on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, I wish to outline how we are preparing for two possible scenarios of budget reductions.

• Scenario 1: Reduced Budget based on Governor’s Budget from January
• Scenario 2: Reduced Budget based on a 10% reduction to state aid

two possible scenarios of budget reductions

At this time, the administrative team is working to develop a series of recommendations to make to the School Committee in order to reduce the gap presented within these scenarios. Gaps of this magnitude are significant and every sector of the school department will be affected. As with building the budget, we frame our approach around our District Improvement Plan and vision. Additionally, these priorities guide our process:

• Consider enrollment at this moment, while also taking into consideration enrollment history of summer move-ins and our enrollment forecast
• Consider the impact of COVID-19 on FY 21 budgetary needs, as best we can predict at this time
• Reduce where students will be impacted the least in the core academic experience
• Scale back instead of broad programmatic cuts, where possible
• Apply a lens of equity across the district
• Not shift the burden further to PCC and Booster groups; our PCC and Booster groups raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to support students in our schools and in our athletic and arts programs. These dedicated volunteers are stretched very thin trying to support our students in areas cut years ago from previous school department budgets.

This is an extremely difficult and complicated task. First, the school department reduced the FY 20 budget in the following categories:

• $69,100 in reduced services including professional development, memberships, and material licenses.
• Reduction of 14.9 positions totaling $746,080
• Increase in the transportation fee, activity fee, and athletic fees to raise an estimated $174,030

Having reduced services and positions last year, and raising fees last year leaves fewer opportunities for FY21. Second, reductions of this magnitude are difficult given the direct relationship of the school department’s budget to a student’s classroom experience; the impact of these cuts will be felt. Lastly, while we are considering a number of contingencies, no one knows exactly what the fall of 2020 will look like for schools in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic and extended closure.

We will continue to examine reduced services and we will work creatively to consider ways in which we can reduce the budget without impacting jobs. Nonetheless, with personnel being the largest expense across the school district encompassing 85% of the budget with benefits, reductions of positions is anticipated. Under scenario 1, we could forecast a loss of as many as 25 positions (based on an average salary of $75,000). Under scenario 2, we could forecast as many as 50 positions (based on an average salary of $75,000).

While the Town Administrator is planning the town budget based on the Governor’s Budget and is awaiting further state-level information, he forecasts further reductions to the town budget in the fall and winter. That being said, the school department budget cycle necessitates our planning now. It is extraordinarily difficult to nearly impossible to make this level of reduction once the school year starts. Rather, we need to plan for the likely scenario now, with the hopes of a better forecast so that we may add back to our budget in the future, although that seems unlikely.

In the coming weeks, we will present options to the School Committee and the School Committee will have an opportunity to discuss and provide input on these items throughout development through on-going budget subcommittee and regular School Committee meetings. The School Committee’s budget will be discussed at the Finance Committee on May 28, 2020 and at the Town Council’s Town Budget Hearing, scheduled for June 17 and June 18, 2020.

Further Reductions to State Aid
The likely scenario for which we are currently preparing involves a reduction of 10%, which is a figure many districts are using to plan for FY 21. However, Chapter 70 aid was reduced by 20% in the 2009 economic downturn; this estimate is being used by some for local budget planning. Should Chapter 70 aid be reduced further to 15% or 20%, this would approximate an additional $1-2 million in reductions, equating to an additional 13-27 positions.

In 2009, the Federal government supported state and local revenue reductions with ARRA funds, mitigating the impact. At this time, there is no certainty of additional Federal funding to mitigate the impact of reduced state revenue, although some are hopeful.

Looking Ahead to FY 22
Last year, during the FY 20 budget development process, I wrote, “I wish to express my grave concern about the ongoing fiscal forecast for FY 21 and the possibility of further and more extensive reductions to the school department.”

The COVID-19 closure and economic downturn magnify an already existing structural budget deficit for Franklin Public Schools. A level service budget for FY 21 would have been
$68,231,057, or a 5.2% increase of $3,372,557 at a time when local revenue projections for the entire town were $3,500,000.

Franklin is in less of a position to rely on state aid than it has been in the past. Over the years, the expectation for minimum local contribution has increased due to the increase in local property values and median income within the town. State aid has contributed 54% of the school budget in FY2011 going down to 43.8% in FY 20, while local contribution has risen from 46% to 56.2% based on the state’s expectation of local contribution. A trend we expect to see in the long term is that maintaining even level service budgets in the future will be difficult under the current revenue formulas as well as long term economic forecasts.

The community is rightfully proud of the Franklin Public Schools. Unfortunately, we have a turbulent time ahead but our collective goal remains of supporting the growth and development of each Franklin student so that they have the social, emotional, academic and career skills to be productive citizens in an ever-changing world.


Download your copy of this important memo
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/budget-memo-0

screen grab of virtual School Committee meeting 5/26/20

Franklin TV - Memorial Day 2020 - Program Schedule

Franklin TV - Memorial Day 2020 - Program Schedule

The schedule for the broadcast of the Memorial Day 2020 program is as follows:

• Wednesday, 03:30 PM
• Thursday, 08:00 AM
• Saturday, 08:00 AM 

For the complete Franklin.TV and WFPR.FM radio schedule check out the program guide  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf
 

Franklin TV - Memorial Day 2020 - Program Schedule

Tracy Novick: "The pit in my stomach"

Tracy Novick is a member of the Worcester (MA) School Committee, and a field director for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC). While she has a bunch of disclaimers as she opens her article, from her observations she asks some questions on how to re-open schools:

"Please make no mistake: having our kids out of school is absolutely catastrophic to their education, and, in many cases, to their physical and mental health. In some cases, this has been exponentially increased by the lack of timely response, or mismanagement, or other leadership lacks.

I'm not under any illusions on how destructive this time is to many.

I also spend a good bit of time in and around schools, and schools of different types. I know what it's like in a suburban high school at lunchtime, and what it's like at an urban elementary school at recess. I've been in the closets that pass for offices for speech therapists and myriad of other support staff, the auto bays and shops of a vocational school at work, the flood of students running for buses at the end of the day.
I've also been in a lot of bathrooms.
I don't of course know it all, but know what a lot of that looks like in schools in Massachusetts right now.

I don't know how we do it without kids touching each other and breathing on each other and their teachers. I mean that, genuinely. I have tried and tried to figure out how you'd do it."

A worthy read, to continue follow this link:
http://who-cester.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-pit-in-my-stomach.html

Tracy's MASC profile page  https://www.masc.org/about-us-3/staff/67-about-us/staff/707-tracy-novick  (her profile needs to be updated as she got re-elected to the Worcester School Committee in Nov 2019).

Tracy Novick: "The pit in my stomach"

In the News: Annie's book store closes; planning underway to allow visitors to long-term care facilities

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Books hold a special place in the heart of Ann Durant -- so much so that they are like members of her family, each variously holding within its whispering, ink-fragrant pages memories of past times spent together or promises of new friendships, new discoveries and new adventures.

So it should come as no surprise that Durant, owner of Annie’s Book Stop on Plainville’s Man-Mar Drive, has been on a very determined mission the last couple of weeks: To leave the collection of books in her second-hand bookstore in equally loving hands.

Durant has found herself in the difficult position of having to close the business her mother -- the late Eleanor Arnold -- opened nearly four decades ago, and that she herself has been operating for nearly 25 years. While she has overcome some significant business challenges over the years, including competing with big box book stores and online book purveyors, the coronavirus pandemic has proven to be too much to surmount.

“Basically, my decision to close is directly because of the pandemic, when you count what it would cost me to stay open,” she said. “I have jumped hurdles -- the big box stores, the online stuff. I’ve always found a way around it, but this ... whether it’s my age or the length of time I’ve done this ... this I couldn’t find a way over it or under it or around it.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200526/a-wonderful-journey-comes-to-end-in-plainville-as-annies-book-stop-closes-amidst-coronavirus-pandemic

"As the state’s economic reopening gets underway in earnest this week, Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday that COVID-19 public health data indicates “that we are trending in the right direction,” and the head of the state’s COVID-19 Command Center said plans are in the works to allow people to once again visit their loved ones in long-term care settings.

Opening his first press conference since many consumer-facing businesses were allowed to reopen Monday, the governor highlighted two of the metrics that he has said will be key considerations when deciding when to launch subsequent phases of the reopening plan.

Baker said the average positive test rate is down to about 9% and has “been pretty much in that general vicinity now for about a week.” And the number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has shown “a significant decrease over the course of the past two or three weeks,” he said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200526/medical-advisory-board-working-on-plan-to-allow-visitors-to-long-term-care-facilities-in-massachusetts-again-visitors-were-banned-due-to-coronavirus-outbreak

Video link for May 26 update by Gov Baker: https://youtu.be/X1Dq6fENwtI

Traffic Advisory for Union Street - Jun 6-7

Traffic Advisory for Union Street

June 6th Traffic Advisory for Union Street

The MBTA/Keolis will be performing maintenance at the track crossing on Union Street over the June 6th weekend. The work will involve closing the roadway with a detour in place. 

Work is expected to begin on Saturday June 6th and the road closure may extend into Sunday, June 7th.

Traffic Advisory for Union Street - Jun 6-7

FM #276 FY 2021 Budget Narrative 5/26/20 (audio)

FM #276 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 276 in the series.

In preparation for the Finance Committee budget hearings scheduled for

• Weds - May 27
• Thur - May 28
• Tues - Jun 2
• Thur - Jun 4

I thought it might be helpful to read the budget narrative our Town Administrator Jamie Hellen wrote and shares as part of the FY 2021 budget package.

Links to the budget documents and budget page are included in the show notes. The individual agenda documents for each of the budget hearings are also included.

The recording runs about 19 minutes, so let’s listen to the budget narrative for FY 2021   Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HZ16M3V7



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Town of Franklin (MA) Budget Page https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget

Town Administrator budget message and budget summary
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/2020-05-27_fy_2021_budget_message_narrative_final.pdf

• May 27 agenda https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee/events/259774
• May 28 agenda https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee/events/259784
• June 2 agenda https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee/events/259794
• June 4 agenda https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee/events/259804

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!
------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

FM #276 FY 2021 Budget Narrative 5/26/20 (audio)

Reminder: School Committee Meeting - May 26, 2020

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

Per Governor Baker’s Executive Order suspending certain provisions of the Open Meeting Law, G.L. c. 30A sec. 20, the public will not be allowed to physically access this School Committee meeting. Members of the Public can access the meeting via remote conference. The School Committee reserves the right to implement additional remote participation procedures and will notify the public of these procedures as soon as practicable.

LOCATION: Remote participation via ZOOM Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86252499587 

Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)  Meeting ID: 813 5749 4092

A G E N D A

“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”


I. Routine Business
A. Review of Agenda
B. Citizen’s Comments

In the spirit of open communication, “the Committee will hold a public participation segment (also called Citizen’s Comments) about matters not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made…. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment…. The Committee will hear public comments related to an agenda item when the Chair deems appropriate during the Committee meeting. Topics for discussion during the meeting must be limited to those items listed on the Committee meeting agenda for that evening…. ” - from Policy BEDH

C. FHS Student Representative Comments
D. Superintendent’s Report

II. Guests/Presentations
A. Retiree Recognition
B. Introduce Mr. Josh Hanna, FHS Principal as of July 1, 2020

III. Discussion/Action Items
A. Policy – 2nd Readings/Adoption
I recommend adoption of the following policies as detailed: EBAB (New) - Pest Management
EBC - Emergency Plans
B. Policy – 1st Reading
I recommend moving Policy ECAF – Security Cameras in Schools to a second reading as detailed.
C. Policy Elimination
I recommend elimination of policy JLDBB – Crisis Intervention Plan as detailed.

IV. Discussion Only Items
A. Closure Update
B. FY 21 Budget Discussion

V. Information Matters
A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Ad Hoc Supt. Evaluation, Ad Hoc Facilities Analysis, Budget, Community Relations/Public Schools Advocacy, Policy, Transportation)
B. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC, Substance Abuse Task Force, School Wellness Advisory Council)

VI. New Business
A. To discuss any future agenda items

VII. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from the May 12, 2020 School Committee meeting as detailed.

VIII. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen

IX. Payroll Ms. D’Angelo

X. Adjournment


Agenda document
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/scagenda_5-26-20.pdf

Meeting packet folder
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/pages/may-26-2020-school-committee-packet

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - May 26, 2020

US Census Bureau - Report on Housing for Aging Population

As the School Department looks at the demographics to determine the projected enrollment over the next ten years, one aspect of the 19 assumptions provided in the report, was a given turnover in housing to "maintain" a stable population.  Higher turnover could increase population, lower turnover could lessen population. 

Given our population is also growing older, aside from services provided by the Senior Center, do we have enough housing for the older population? This report on a US perspective takes a look at that aspect.

"The U.S. Census Bureau has released a new population report on the readiness of housing to meet the needs of the nation’s aging population. The report – Old Housing, New Needs: Is America’s Housing Ready for an Aging Population? – uses data from the 2011 American Housing Survey (AHS) to provide national-level estimates of housing units with aging-accessible features, such as handrails or grab bars in bathrooms, step-free entryways, and wheelchair-accessible kitchens, as well as geographic differences in the prevalence of homes with these features.

This report also examines the demographic and economic characteristics of households where older adults reported difficulty using these home features compared with households where older adults reported no such difficulty."

Shared from the US Census
https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2020/demo/p23-217.html

Download from the US Census page:
https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/demo/p23-217.pdf

Or the Franklin Matters copy:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aI3EyGi_Of0iCYvUSQKLNL7zPPlOu2VK/view?usp=sharing

US Census Bureau - Report on Housing for Aging Population