Low-Income Elderly Homeowners in Very Old Dwellings: The Need for Public Policy Debate

This paper assesses whether the usually favorable depictions of older homeowners in the United States can be generalized to those who have extremely low incomes and occupy the oldest housing stock. Theoretical treatments and past empirical research findings offer a strong rationale for distinguishin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of aging & social policy 2008-01, Vol.20 (1), p.1-28
Main Author: Golant, Stephen M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Affordable housing
Aged
aging in place
Elderly
Health Services Needs and Demand
Health technology assessment
Home Ownership
Homeowners
Housing
Housing - economics
Housing - statistics & numerical data
Housing Costs
Housing policy
Humans
Income
Low income groups
low-income elderly
Old age
older dwellings
Older people
Ownership
Public Housing
Public Policy
Socioeconomic Factors
United States
United States of America
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Summary:This paper assesses whether the usually favorable depictions of older homeowners in the United States can be generalized to those who have extremely low incomes and occupy the oldest housing stock. Theoretical treatments and past empirical research findings offer a strong rationale for distinguishing this subgroup of older households. Analyzing 1999 American Housing Survey data, this paper finds that poor older homeowners in very old dwellings are more likely to be demographically disadvantaged and to occupy physically deficient dwellings. The paper calls for public debate on the comparative benefits and costs of governmental programs that help these vulnerable older persons to age in place as opposed to offering them alternative affordable housing options.
ISSN:0895-9420
1545-0821
DOI:10.1300/J031v20n01_01