Housing Affordability and Security Issues Facing Older Adults in the United States.

Abstract

Rising housing costs have outpaced incomes in the United States for at least the past three decades. At the same time, the population of older adults is growing rapidly. The confluence of these two trends has brought housing affordability for older adults into focus in scholarly and policy conversations. The majority of older adults own their homes, which can confer advantages for housing affordability and security. Older homeowners who bought their homes earlier in life and paid off their mortgages before retirement are often insulated from rising housing costs. Still, some may face difficulties keeping up with rising property taxes and saving for home maintenance, and an increasing number still hold mortgages. In addition, a notable fraction of older adults rent their homes, and many have difficulties keeping up with rising rents or spend a large fraction of income on rent. In this spotlight, we first assess housing affordability and security issues facing each group of older adults. Next, we consider policies and programs that facilitate improvements in housing affordability and stability for each group. Finally, we close with some thoughts on the future of housing issues in the older adult population.