The document summarizes research on housing and transportation issues facing older adults in the United States. It finds that subsidized housing located near public transit is important for the livability and mobility of older populations but that existing affordable housing near transit is at risk of being lost. The research looked at differences between housing located near versus far from transit and the location of subsidized housing in 20 cities. Case studies of Cleveland and the Twin Cities provide examples of how housing location impacts older residents' access to transportation.

1. Title text here
Rodney Harrell, PhD
Senior Strategic Policy Advisor
AARP Public Policy Institute

2. U.S. population is growing …
and growing older
65+ Share of
Total
Year 65+ Population Total
Population
Population
2000 34,991,753 281,421,906 12%
2010 40,229,000 310,233,000 13%
2030 72,092,000 373,504,000 19%
2050 88,547,000 439,010,000 20%
Source: U.S Census Bureau - Census projections as of
8/2008

3. U.S. Census Bureau projection:
Growth in 65+ will outpace other
cohorts
U.S. Population by Age, 2010 and 2050
100%
90% 40
89
Percentage of Population
80%
70% 65 and
Over
60%
186 20-64
50% 238
40%
Under 20
30%
20%
10% 84 113
0%
2010 2050
Table 12. Projections of the Population by Age and Sex for the United States: 2010 to 2050 (NP2008-T12)
Source: Population Division, U.S. Census Bureau
Release Date: August 14, 2008

4. Homelessness and
Older Adults
•30 percent of the U.S. population is 50 years of
age and older
•In 2008, 16.8 percent of persons who sought
community services for the homeless were aged
51 or older.
• Older homeless are more likely to suffer from
health problems due to exposure to extreme
climates
Source: The Policy Book, AARP Public Policies, 2011-2012

5. Homelessness and
Older Adults
•National data (HUD Annual Homelessness Assessment
Report) shows modest increases in older (62+) homeless
population: 2.4% in 2005 to 2.8% in 2008.
•Site specific data from various cities show greater
increases in general homeless populations which would
include older homeless.
•Older homeless population projected to increase by 33%
from 44,172 in 2010 to 58,772 in 2020 and reach over
95,000 in 2050.
Source: “Demographics of Homelessness Series: The Rising Elderly
Population,” National Alliance to End Homeless, April 2010

6. Homelessness and
Older Adults: Causes
• Older households with annual income below the poverty line
• Aging of the chronically homeless population
• New homeless elderly adults who did not experience
homelessness prior to age 65
• Other causes:
• history of unstable employment
• financial problems/housing costs
• mental/physical health problems
• job loss
• inadequate/discontinued public assistance
• inadequate income
Source: “Demographics of Homelessness Series: The Rising Elderly
Population,” National Alliance to End Homeless, April 2010

7. Homelessness and
Older Adults: Causes-
Inadequate/Discontinued Public Assistance
• Affordable housing supply declining for approximately 30 years. A
loss of 1.3 million units from 1993 to 2003.
• Public housing provides affordable housing units but programs
have ceased building new units
• Vacancy rates for Section 202 (2.6%) and LIHTC (1.6%) housing
properties serving seniors are low compared to national rate of
9.6% in 2006.
• Long waiting lists and low turnover in subsidized housing
• Older residents don’t move as frequently as younger residents
• Older residents may find moving difficult due to health reasons
• Section 8 vouchers: demand often exceeds supply; five- to ten-
year waiting lists
Source: “Demographics of Homelessness Series: The Rising Elderly
Population,” National Alliance to End Homeless, April 2010

8. 50+ Householders with Housing
Cost Burdens
Low- and moderate-income households often have a
housing cost burden, even if they own their homes
Source: State Housing Profiles 2011, AARP Public Policy Institute

9. California - 50+ Householders with
Housing Cost Burdens
Source: State Housing Profiles 2011, AARP Public Policy Institute

10. New York - 50+ Householders
with Housing Cost Burdens
Source: State Housing Profiles 2011, AARP Public Policy Institute

11. Massachusetts - 50+ Householders
with Housing Cost Burdens
Source: State Housing Profiles 2011, AARP Public Policy Institute

12. State Housing Profiles:
Housing Conditions and
Affordability for the Older
Population
Housing Statistics for each
state
Coming soon!: Will be
available at
www.aarp.org/statehousing
profiles

13. Homelessness and
Older Adults: Mortgage Crisis
• Americans age 50 and older represent
approximately 28% of all delinquencies and
foreclosures as of 2007 (684,000 homeowners,
including 50,000 in foreclosures or home already
lost).
• Older African-Americans and Hispanics have higher
foreclosures rates than whites of any age.
•Older Americans with subprime first mortgages are nearly 17 times more
likely to be in foreclosure than Americans of the same age with prime
loans.
•For Americans over the age of 50, a loan-to-value ratio that exceeds
100% is associated with foreclosure rates that are roughly double the
national rate for consumers in this age group.
Source: “A First Look at Older Americans and the Mortgage
Crisis,” AARP Public Policy Institute, 2008

14. Livable Communities
Photo by Jana Lynott
Photo by Jana Lynott

15. AARP Housing Policy Principles
(2011-2012)
 Improve home design.
 Promote affordable housing options.
 Strengthen federal housing programs.
 Increase capacity for public-private
partnerships.
 Promote financial security of housing
assets.
 Foster home and community-based
service delivery.

16. Homelessness and
Older Adults: AARP Policy Solutions
•Federal Program Coordination
•Funding and Assistance
Source: The Policy Book, AARP Public Policies, 2011-2012
www.aarp.org/policybook

17. PPI Report:
“Preserving Affordability and Access in Livable
Communities
Subsidized Housing Opportunities near Transit and the 50 +
Population”
Authors:
Rodney Harrell, PhD
AARP Public Policy Institute
Allison Brooks
Reconnecting America
Todd Nedwick
National Housing Trust
 AARP, Reconnecting America, and the National Housing Trust developed a study, research
paper and Solutions Forum that looked at housing, transportation, and land use.
 This study looked at the differences between housing near transit and housing far from
transit, the location of subsidized housing in 20 cities, and how housing location mattered to
older persons who lived in those apartments.

18. Overview of Research Conclusions…
 Subsidized housing near transit meets a crucial need for
older adults.
 Currently, there is a significant supply of affordable
housing near transit (Project-based Section 8 and Section 202)
 However, existing affordable housing near transit is
increasingly at risk in the face of upward pressure on
housing prices and expiring government subsidies.
 Preserving affordable housing near transit is of critical
importance for creating livable communities for older
Americans.

19. Cleveland, OH
 Long waiting lists for
housing
 Safety and perception
of safety were issues
 Lack of access to train
station limits the use
by residents
 Good bus service on
main avenues,
problems getting
elsewhere

20. © Google 2010

21. 2 1
1
3
© Google 2010
© Google 2010
3
2
© Google 2010 © Google 2010

22. Twin Cities, MN
 The downtown location
in Minneapolis has
access to light rail,
buses, shopping
 Buses in Edina not
“frequent” but are
useful
 Car access not as
important as in other
areas due to effective,
useful transit

23. Light Rail
Station
Nicollet Mall
Nicollet
© Google 2010 Towers

24. © Google 2010
© Google 2010 © Google 2010
Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

25. AARP Public Policy Institute
 Informs and stimulates public debate
on the issues we face as we age.
 Provides objective research and
analysis
 Promotes the development of sound,
creative policies to address our www.aarp.org/ppi/liv-com
common need for economic security,
health care, and quality of life.
For hard copies of publications, send requests to: ppi@aarp.org