The availability of adequate housing for older people: Issue areas for advocates

Part of the strength of the arguments posed by housing advocates for the elderly rests on why the elderly merit special attention. Using two indicators of housing need, physical adequacy and affordability, the elderly are shown to be relatively less well-off than the nonelderly both at a point in time and persistently over time. A review of the federal government’s response to the elderly’s housing needs suggests that the number of households in need will continue to outdistance the number of households who actually receive assistance.