Cumulative Inequality and Housing Insecurity Severity Among Renters in Later Life

Arielle True-Funk

Currently, about a third of Americans are housing insecure, meaning that they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Housing insecurity is associated with poorer mental and physical health and shortened lifespans, and is particularly detrimental to renters and the aged, populations that are more likely to be housing insecure. With data from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study, this study examined housing insecurity among 2,096 renters age 50 and older. This study uses a Cumulative Inequality framework and assesses how life course events and contextual factors affect older renters’ risk of experiencing housing insecurity. Results show that over half of respondents experienced any level of housing insecurity. Logistic regression models indicate that those from urban areas, those with less than a high school diploma, widows, and older respondents were at greater risk of being housing insecure.

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 Presented in Session 6. Health & Mortality & Aging