WI23-14: Pathways into and out of Housing Insecurity and Homelessness: Relationships between Age, Public Program Use, and Housing Stability

Older adults, who comprise about a third of the Massachusetts residents using the homelessness services system, are particularly vulnerable to housing insecurity given deterioration in financial resources, social networks, and health and abilities which complicate their capacity to maintain existing housing and to navigate benefits systems.
While income from Social Security Administration programs can reduce economic burdens and improve housing stability, older adults, particularly those who are Black and Hispanic, are particularly sensitive to barriers including administrative, technological, and transportation.