We should all be able to live and age in accessible, affordable, age-friendly housing in our communities. Yet, older adults are at the epicenter of the national housing affordability and homelessness crisis. People 50 years old and older are the fastest growing group of people experiencing homelessness—with most entering homelessness for the first time in their lives.
Almost one in three older renter households pays more than half of its monthly income for rent. This means that one-third of older renters are just one surprise medical bill away from being pushed into the streets. Because of systemic inequities that have compounded throughout their lives, older adults of color are more likely to face extreme rent burdens, and are at much greater risk of becoming homeless.
Justice in Aging’s work to prevent and end elder homelessness addresses systemic barriers to housing for low-income older adults, advances policy solutions to increase the supply of and funding for affordable age-friendly housing, and trains advocates serving older adults on how to connect their older adult clients to affordable housing.
