Seniors face an added layer of challenges when it comes to finding housing that is affordable, safe, and fit for their needs. Any conversation about affordable housing has to take into consideration this population. This is especially urgent in Rhode Island, one of the state’s with the largest shares of its population over age 85, and where by 2040 one in four adults will be over the age of 60. Rhode Island is tied with Massachusetts for the third oldest housing stock in the nation, in addition to having insufficient housing production. All of these trends compound to make housing in the state expensive and many times inappropriate for the needs of senior citizens, such as ramp access, single-floor units, and others.
“30% of Rhode Island’s population is age 55 or older. Of those households living alone, over half have incomes of below $25,000. So as you get older your income tends to become restricted. The housing wage gap for older residents is very big,” said Brenda Clement, Director at HousingWorksRI in an interview on seniors and housing.
The bottleneck in housing production affects all citizens in Rhode Island, but becomes even more dire for seniors who see their incomes decreased and burdened by healthcare and other costs. Studies have found that as many as 20% of Rhode Island’s seniors live below the poverty line. While the income needed to afford a two-bedroom apartment in the state is $51, 520, adults 65 and older who are renting have a household income of $29,213. Of Rhode Island’solder population, 39% are housing cost burdened and 20% are severely cost burdened, and among the 85+ population we encounter the highest rates of both cost burden and severe cost burden. The issue becomes even more severe when we look at the divide between the white and non-white populations of the state.
“The general perception is that seniors are living in their own home with their mortgage paid off, but that’s not the reality,” said Jim Nyberg of LeadingAge RI. “Many seniors are housing cost burdened. It has a ripple effect. Housing costs take away from food and healthcare.”
The problem, therefore, includes both the income of senior citizens and the housing stock in the state. Seniors would benefit from new units that are smaller sized, accessible, and affordable, as well as from the integration of social and health services into their housing situation. Several models have emerged around the state, such as the Providence Village. There’s a need for continuing innovation in the area, in order to address affordability and quality issues. Policymakers need to be aware of the need for proactive planning for housing our aging population. While recent policy advances like the Accessory Dwelling unit legislation have been important steps, they need to be met with effective implementation and broader action. If Rhode Island wants to enable its citizens to age in place, it needs to take action and broaden notions of aging in community. That means not only enabling seniors to remain the same houses, but providing options that may better suit older resident’s needs and preferences while enabling them to remain connected to their communities and receiving the services they need.
Interview with Brenda Clement, Director at HousingWorksRI
Interview with Jim Nyberg of LeadingAge RI
SOURCES
HousingWorks RI at Roger Williams University, 2017 Housing Fact Book, 2017
https://www.census.gov/data.html
Healthy Aging Data Report, Highlights from Rhode Island 2020.
