"US Housing Crisis Looms as Aging Population Surges"

A new report by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies warns that the United States is ill-prepared to adequately house and care for its growing aging population. With insufficient government assistance, many older adults may have to forgo needed care or rely on family and friends for assistance, leading to an increase in homelessness among older Americans. The report suggests creative solutions such as house or apartment sharing, accessory dwelling units, and cohousing communities to address the housing needs of older people with fixed or dwindling incomes. Additionally, the report highlights the rising mortgage debt among older adults and the challenges of obtaining affordable long-term care services. Older people of color and those living alone are particularly vulnerable to housing cost burdens.