Seniors and the Housing Crisis

By 2030, just five years from now, more people in Washington will be over 65 than under 18, requiring significant changes across housing, healthcare, and social services. This shift brings both opportunities and challenges, particularly in the housing sector. 

Cathy MacCaul, Advocacy Director for AARP Washington, shared the demographic shifts affecting senior housing in Washington state. "There's a huge quiet crisis around aging into poverty and the increase in homelessness," MacCaul warned. "In fact, the fastest growing segment of the homeless population are people in their 60s. This is just not acceptable."

The desire to stay in your own home as you age is increasingly difficult as a widening gap grows between median household income and housing costs. This is particularly challenging for seniors on fixed incomes, with the average Social Security benefit in Washington being approximately $1,800 per month, often insufficient to cover rising housing costs.

Housing Solutions for Seniors

Our recent WA Cares Conversations webinar highlighted several innovative housing solutions that communities across Washington are implementing to address these challenges.

• Accessory Dwelling Units provide flexible options for seniors by offering smaller living spaces on existing properties. Missing Middle Housing creates modest density housing options that maintain community character while being close to transit and services. These designs allow seniors to downsize while remaining in their familiar neighborhoods.
• Manufactured and mobile home communities represent important housing options for many seniors, but these communities are increasingly vulnerable to development pressures as they often sit on valuable land. Recent legislation has strengthened residents' ability to purchase their communities when threatened by investors, helping preserve these affordable housing options.
• The Senior Housing Plus Services model brings essential services directly to apartment complexes where seniors already live. These may include health screenings, nutritional support, educational activities, and exercise programs. Communities implementing this approach have seen reduced emergency room visits, better chronic disease management, and lower healthcare costs.
• Co-living and home sharing approaches, like the "village model," feature smaller private living spaces with shared common areas for community building. Older adults are finding this as a viable place to live, to build community, to have an affordable place."

Local Resources for Seniors

Matt Santelli from Pierce County Aging and Disability Resources detailed the numerous programs available through local Area Agencies on Aging across Washington. 

Health promotion services include in-home caregiver programs with higher income and asset limits than typical Medicaid, family caregiver support programs, and Health Homes programs to help seniors maximize their Medicare benefits and maintain wellness at home.

Safety enhancement programs provide free or low-cost medical equipment such as shower chairs and grab bars, emergency response systems, fall prevention programs, and telephone reassurance programs for isolated seniors. "Falling at home is the number one reason people will end up in an emergency situation," Santelli noted, highlighting the importance of these preventive measures.

Financial stability programs help seniors stretch their fixed incomes through basic food benefits, energy assistance grants, fresh produce vouchers, senior meal sites, home weatherization services, and property tax exemption assistance. While these programs can't increase seniors' income directly, they effectively reduce household expenses and expand purchasing power.

Jonnie Matson from the Home and Community Living Administration shared specialized housing resources for those eligible for long-term care services. These include the Bridge Subsidy program, which provides monthly rent support paid directly to housing providers, and federally funded voucher programs that offer permanent affordable housing options.

For seniors facing housing emergencies, programs like emergency rental assistance can prevent eviction, while motel interim stays provide temporary housing for up to six months during transitions. Global leasing partnerships help seniors with significant housing barriers find stable accommodation.

WA Cares

WA Cares offers flexible support options including in-home care, home modifications, and assistive technology, aligning with seniors' preference to age in place. An update from the 2024 legislative session allows qualified participants who move out of state to maintain their benefits, with out-of-state benefits becoming available in July 2030. Learn more at wacaresfund.wa.gov.

For more information, watch the replay of our WA Cares Conversations: Seniors and the Housing Crisis webinar.