By Esther Colón-Bermúdez, NLIHC Research Analyst
An article published in Cities, “Aging, housing affordability, and homelessness,” examines the connections between aging, incomes, and homelessness. The research finds that areas with more extremely low-income renters and older adult households experience higher levels of homelessness in the U.S., especially sheltered homelessness.
Older adults are the fastest-growing age group among those experiencing homelessness, with their numbers expected to nearly triple in some major U.S. cities by 2030. This increase is driven by a growing older adult population and factors such as limited retirement savings, fixed incomes, rising health care costs, and inadequate social support systems.
The authors statistically tested how the number of people experiencing homelessness across 370 Continuums of Care (CoCs) was associated with the CoC areas’ demographics, economic conditions, housing market conditions, social safety net levels, climate, and mobility patterns. CoCs are coordinated systems offering a wide range of housing and services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
The study found that incomes and housing affordability are significant drivers of homelessness. Areas with higher shares of renters with incomes less than 30% of the HUD Area Median Family Income (HAMFI) and with incomes between 30% and 50% of HAMFI had significantly higher rates of overall homelessness, especially sheltered homelessness.
Areas with a greater share of the population that was 65 years of age or older were associated with greater homelessness, especially sheltered homelessness. The relationship between the older adult population and homelessness was even stronger in areas with higher shares of renters with incomes below 30% of HAMFI. Interestingly, areas where older adults accounted for more than 20% of the population saw a significant relationship between the share of the population with incomes between 50% and 80% of HAMFI and homelessness.
Based on the findings, the authors suggest that in communities with lower shares of older adults, policymakers should prioritize rental assistance targeted to extremely and very low-income renters. Meanwhile, in communities with significantly greater shares of older adults, policymakers should also consider shallow subsidies or intermediate vouchers to support near-poor older renters who typically are not the targeted population for housing assistance. As the US population continues to age, the authors also recommend expanding accessibility features and age-appropriate services in emergency, transitional, and supportive housing.
Read the article here.