Rising rents and a shortage of age-friendly, affordable units are making it harder for older renters to stay stably housed. Many older adults are “housing cost burdened,” spending more than 30 percent of their income on rent and leaving fewer resources for food, medications, transportation, and other essentials.

In a West Health Mosaic blog post, CHCS senior program officer Torshira Moffett, MPH, examines how housing cost burden among older renters affects health and financial security, and underscores the limits of existing subsidy programs in meeting demand. It highlights opportunities for states, housing agencies, and health care stakeholders to collaborate on expanding affordable, accessible housing options and integrating housing supports into aging and Medicaid policy.