New Issue Brief from Justice in Aging on the Importance of Federal Rental Assistance for Older Adults

Justice in Aging, an Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) Campaign Roundtable member group, released an issue brief this month highlighting the importance of federal rental assistance for older adults. The number of older adults being served by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is increasing, with households headed by adults over age 62 making up about 42% of the households that receive assistance from HUD’s major federal rental assistance programs. At the same time, older adults are increasingly experiencing homelessness, with adults over age 55 making up 20% of all people experiencing homelessness in 2024. Many older adults experiencing homelessness are losing their housing for the first time after age 50, and the key drivers for homelessness among this population are housing costs and the gap between income and rental costs. The issue brief highlights how expansion of federal rental assistance, in addition to supporting housing stability, would benefit older adult health and economic security while also supporting the ability to age in place.  

Older adults make up a disproportionate amount of extremely low-income renters and often rely on social security and or/ supplemental security income (SSI) to meet their basic needs, including rental costs. Receiving housing assistance reduces financial burden and allows older adults to better meet other basic needs, like food and healthcare. The brief emphasizes that due to insufficient funding for federal rental assistance, only one in three older adults who qualifies for subsidized housing receives it, and those who qualify must face closed or multi-year long waitlists, sometimes waiting more than a decade to receive assistance. Older adults waiting for subsidized housing are at an increased risk of experiencing homelessness, which accelerates aging and raises mortality risk. Older adults experiencing homelessness frequently develop geriatric conditions typical of people 20 years older, and the median life expectancy for older adults experiencing homelessness is 65.  

Federal rental assistance not only supports older adults with housing but also improves their economic security and supports aging in place. Aside from social security, federal rental assistance lifts more older adults out of poverty than other government programs. Federal rental assistance also prevents forced moves and evictions of older adults that lead to homelessness or institutionalization, as a lack of affordable housing contributes to unnecessary nursing home placement. To ensure that low-income older adults can stay housed and age with dignity in an environment that matches their needs, policy makers must protect and expand federal rental assistance.  

Read the issue brief here.