RRF Foundation for Aging released a new Issue Brief on February 23, Home Front and Center: Supporting Access to Affordable and Quality Housing. The nation’s lack of affordable and appropriate housing is “particularly acute for older people—those with low or fixed incomes may forgo adequate nutrition, medications, and other essentials in order to keep a roof over their heads. The reason is captured in a saying cited often by affordable housing advocates: The rent eats first,” the brief says.

The brief outlines three strategies that will improve housing for older people, especially those whose access to safe and affordable places to live has been limited by economic inequities or discrimination. The three strategies, promoting safe and supportive housing, addressing inequities and preventing homelessness, and enabling affordable housing, are reviewed.

The new Issue Brief includes data on housing and homelessness among older adults, points to the RRF Foundation’s commitment to projects, education, and advocacy to address this issue, and describes how affordable housing is central to the Foundation’s work toward improving the quality of life for older people.

The Issue Brief is here.