Harrell ncrc 3 22-13 financial security and affordable housing

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Ensuring Financial Security & Affordable Housing for Older AmericansDr. Rodney Harrell, Sr. Strategic Policy Advisor, AARP Public Policy InstituteMarch 23,2012

0102030405060708090

Total TotalEmployed

Unemployed Out of LaborForce

Employment Status

Boomers’ concern: Not being able to afford to stay in current home for the rest of one’s life.

Source: AARP Public Policy Institute, 2012. “Boomers and the Great Recession: Struggling to Recover”

Age category: 50-64

Base=3950

State Housing Profiles: www.aarp.org/statehousingprofiles

Fewer 50+ Householders Own Without Mortgages

Source: Harrell, Housing for Older Adults: The Impacts of the Recession, AARP Public Policy Institute, 2011

50+ Householders Who Own With

Mortgages

Lower-Income Households Age 50+ Experience Significant Housing Cost

Burdens

Housing Cost Burdens are Worsening for Older Adults

Meeting the Affordability Need

Source: Center for Housing Policy: “Housing an Aging Population, Are we Prepared?” 2012

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.

PPI Report #2009-15

• 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

Cleveland, OH

Twin Cities, MN

• The downtown location in Minneapolis has access to light rail, buses, shopping

• Car access not as important as in other areas due to effective, useful transit

Nicollet Towers

Nicollet Mall

Light Rail Station

Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis

Who Benefits the Most from Housing Near Transit?

Minimal Benefit Full Benefit

Low Amount of LimitationsHigh Amount of Limitations

Individual: Open to the idea of transit, without unaddressed cognitive or physical impairments, and able to read and

understand signage

Community (External): Living in well-planned, safe, healthy

communities and in walkable neighborhoods with resources nearby.

Frequent, accessible, reliable transit service that connects to most other places that one

would want to travel to.

Individual: Significant physical limitations that prevent

boarding or waiting for transit.

Those who do not understand the transit system.

Community (External): Living in poorly planned or economically

struggling communities with little shopping or services nearby.

Poor transit service, including bus drivers who won’t stop, poor route planning, unreliable service, inaccessible stops/stations, high

crime levels.

Policy Implications• The preservation of existing (and

creation of new) affordable housing, particularly in advantageous locations.

Housing

• Greater integration of transportation and land use in policy, planning and implementation efforts

Integration

• Improvements and greater investment in transit

Transportation

Contact:

Rodney Harrell, PhDrharrell@aarp.org@DrUrbanPolicy (Twitter)Facebook.com/DrUrbanPolicy

AARP Public Policy Institute Livable Communities aarp.org/ppi/liv-com Twitter:@AARPpolicy

AARP.org/livable

AARP Foundation Housing Solutions Center: aarp.org/housingsolutionscenter (aarp.org/vivienda en Español)

Presentations will be available at www.ncrc.org/conference/ by March 29, 2013

Harrell ncrc 3 22-13 financial security and affordable housing

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