The study aims to inform a policy and practice agenda for addressing the needs and interests of public housing residents who are older or have a disability.
The LeadingAge LTSS Center @UMass Boston is working with The Urban Institute (Urban) on a new study designed to shed light on how best to provide effective support to older adults living in public housing. The RRF Foundation for Aging is funding the study.
The new project is part of Urban’s Future of Public Housing Initiative, which aims to build an evidence-based agenda for preserving public housing and protecting residents. A key component of this agenda is addressing the needs of older adults living in public housing.
The study is being led by Susan J. Popkin, institute fellow and director of the Housing Opportunities and Services Together (HOST) Initiative at the Urban Institute, and Alisha Sanders, director of housing and services policy research at the LTSS Center.
BACKGROUND
Since 1937, public housing has been an important source of permanent affordable housing for vulnerable populations, including families, people with disabilities, and older adults with low incomes. Yet, waiting lists for public housing and other rental assistance programs are years long or closed to new applicants, and the aging public housing stock is plagued by rising maintenance needs.
Older adults already represent a significant portion of public housing residents, and this percentage will likely continue to increase in the future as existing residents age in place and new older adults move in. Many of these older adult residents live with physical and mental health conditions and functional limitations that raise their risk for adverse health outcomes and challenge their ability to age safely in their homes and communities.
A growing body of research is demonstrating the important role housing-based service programs can play in managing the health and social needs of older adult residents. Similarly, research in public housing settings has found value in providing services on-site for residents.
GOALS OF THE RESEARCH
The study aims to inform an overall policy and practice agenda for preserving and revitalizing the nation’s public housing communities to address the needs and interests of current and future residents who are older or have a disability. The study centers on three primary research questions:
- What are the health, functional, and social circumstances of older adults living in public housing?
- What are the promising practices for integrating services into public and assisted housing settings to help address residents’ health and social needs?
- How should older adult resident needs and interests be taken into account when rehabilitating/rebuilding public housing communities, and how should older adults be supported during the process?
To address these questions, researchers will conduct:
- A field scan to identify promising practices to serve older adults, and case studies of a several innovations.
- An analysis that uses data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to explore the health status of older adults.
- A stakeholder convening to develop principles and best practices for ensuring that the perspectives and needs of older adults are adequately considered and met in public housing resident support initiatives, operations, and redevelopment plans.
A final brief will present the results of the case studies and data analysis, summarize convening discussions, and present recommendations for policy and practice. The brief will be targeted to federal policy makers, advocates, public housing authorities, service providers, and residents.