Yilan County seeks $184 million for 'Old House Longevity' program to combat aging crisis

Taiwan's Yilan County is confronting a dual crisis of an aging population and aging housing, prompting a significant initiative to revitalize older homes. Over half of the county's residences are more than 30 years old, while the proportion of residents aged 65 and above has surpassed 20%. To tackle the challenges faced by seniors living in these older structures, the county government has launched the "Old House Longevity and Functional Renewal Plan."

The plan seeks NT$184 million in funding to offer renovation subsidies for apartments and detached houses. The goal is to create a safer and more supportive environment for seniors to age in place. The county's construction department reports that out of 220,000 households, 120,000 are considered "old houses" (over 30 years old), coinciding with over 90,000 elderly residents.

Subsidies will cover both external and internal renovations. For apartments, adding an elevator can receive up to NT$4 million, and facade repairs up to NT$3 million. Internally, the focus is on accessibility features and utility upgrades, with subsidies capped at NT$200,000 for general households and NT$300,000 for low-income elderly households. Applicants must own legal structures, and a structural safety assessment is mandatory, with initial evaluations subsidized at NT$15,000 per building.

The county government will prioritize applications from households with elderly residents, those seeking multiple renovation types, or joint applications from connected buildings. Applications are open from August to November, with information sessions planned across the county. The government will assess funding availability for potential future subsidy rounds.