New Report Shows Widening Housing Inequality Among America's Older Adults

Cambridge, Mass. -- Housing inequality is becoming increasingly evident among older Americans as the number of older households climbs to unprecedented levels, according to "Housing America’s Older Adults 2019," a report released by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

Between 2012 and 2017, the number of households headed by someone 65 or older jumped from 27 million to 31 million and will continue to grow. At the same time, the number of older adults facing housing cost burdens reached an all-time high of 10 million, income disparities are widening, and white-minority gaps in homeownership have expanded. Meanwhile, homeownership rates are lower and debt rates are higher for those 50 to 64, as compared to earlier generations.