Housing

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report, "Homelessness: Actions to Help Better Address Older Adults' Housing and Health Needs". The GAO conducted this study due to the high levels of homelessness, the aging U.S. population, and rising housing costs which concerns researchers that a growing number of older adults could experience homelessness. The report explores the needs of older adults who experience homelessness and the challenges to addressing those needs. The study selected nine communities for diversity of geography and population density, and the GAO conducted nongeneralizable interviews with 45 service providers and 34 older adults with experience of homelessness. Read the report to learn more.

The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, through its Housing an Aging Society Program, recently released its biannual report titled “Housing America’s Older Adults 2023.” The Housing an Aging Society Program aims to deepen understanding of the implications of aging populations and advance policy, planning, design, and public health solutions to address the housing needs of older adults. The 2023 report explores equitable access to affordable, accessible, safe, and connected housing. The report highlights a 34 percent increase in the US population aged 65 and over in the past decade, reaching 58 million in 2022...

On November 1, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the launch of the “Housing and Services Partnership Accelerator”, which will support states in developing or expanding innovative housing-related supports and services for Medicaid-eligible people with disabilities and older adults who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. The Partnership Accelerator will focus on helping states improve collaboration and coordination between organizations and systems that provide services and resources that help people find – and keep – stable housing in the community...

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) have released new updates to the Rental Housing Programs Database (RHPD), offering comprehensive information on state and locally funded initiatives aimed at expanding access to affordable rental housing. The RHPD's purpose is to facilitate a better understanding of how state and local governments utilize their financial resources to bridge the gap between federal rental housing funding and the unmet needs of renters. This resource equips housing advocates, policymakers, and interested parties with insights into diverse programs that can serve as models for addressing rental housing challenges in their own communities...

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released its nineteenth "Worst Case Housing Needs: 2023 Report to Congress," part of a longstanding series providing national data and analysis on critical housing challenges faced by very low-income (VLI) renters. Renter households with VLI who do not receive government housing assistance are defined as having worst-case needs for adequate, affordable rental housing if they pay more than one-half of their income for rent, live in severely inadequate conditions, or both. The report revealed that in 2021, 8.53 million households experienced worst-case housing needs, marking a notable increase from the record high in 2011...

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has developed a series of practical guides centered around housing and home equity for aging adults. Given the complexities of retirement, debt, and savings, these guides cover essential subjects including managing changes in health, passing down homes to children/heirs, utilizing home equity for financial needs, and addressing the loss of a spouse/partner. These guides offer insights and considerations to assist older individuals in making informed decisions regarding their homes and financial security in later stages of life.

On July 20th, the Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing titled "Laying the Foundation: Housing Accessibility and Affordability for Older Adults and People with Disabilities." Led by Committee Chair Bob Casey (D-PA) and Ranking Member Mike Braun (R-IN), the committee was joined by four disability rights and housing experts to discuss the current state of affordable and accessible housing, regulatory and systemic barriers, and potential solutions, including: ...

On March 16, ACF announced an award of $560 million to the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program or LIHEAP, following an award of $1 billion February 2023. LIHEAP provides asssistance with heating and cooling costs for low-income households. Over 6 million households received funding from the LIHEAP program during the past year, with LIHEAP funding for Fiscal Year 2023 totaling $6.1 billion.

The National Indian Council on Aging has released a toolkit dedicated to increasing awareness and knowledge of the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native persons living with disabilities. The resource is divided into sections for healthy living, education, independent living, vocational rehabilitation and employment resources, assistive technology, housing and facilities, and transportation. It includes suggestions for improving services, providing protections, and utilizing resources in local tribal communities for people with disabilities. Additional information provides overviews on federal disabilities laws, initiatives, agencies, and organizations that support work with Native individuals with disabilities and communities.

A new report from the Alliance’s Homelessness Research Institute analyzes 2018 data from the Vulnerability Index Service Prioritization Decision Assistance Tool to examine the different ways in which older adults exit homelessness; identify disparities in types of exits by shelter status, race, ethnicity, and gender; and recommend issues that need further research and policy attention.