Research to Strengthen Policy, Practice, and Advocacy on Housing for Aging Societies

Abstract Population aging alongside other global trends—such as urbanization, widening economic inequality, and climate change—accelerate the need for systematic efforts to improve housing for diverse individuals, families, and communities as they age. This symposium features gerontological research explicitly designed to advance policy, practice, and advocacy on aging and housing. The first presentation demonstrates the use of data from U.S. surveys to better characterize the nature of current and future challenges in access to affordable, accessible, and safe housing for older adults. The second paper presents findings from a mixed-methods action research project in Toronto involving tenants living in properties managed by the second largest senior housing provider in North America. The paper indicates how findings on facilitators and threats to aging in place directly inform policy implementation on integrated services in Toronto. The third paper presents findings from a longitudinal, in-depth interview study with leaders of age-friendly community initiatives in suburban New Jersey, demonstrating the simultaneous challenges and opportunities of embedding housing advocacy at the local level within broader age-friendly community change efforts. The fourth paper presents three case studies based on interviews with key stakeholders involved with anti-displacement housing preservation and public housing organizing in New York City, highlighting the often invisible work of older, lower income, African American women at the center of advocacy efforts to preserve affordable housing. Guided by interdisciplinary critical work on ethical responses to population aging, the discussant will integrate themes from the papers to propose a framework for research, policy, practice, and advocacy.

managed or operated by 42 providers which we categorized across a shelter/housing continuum: 1) Emergency/transitional/temporary shelter/housing; 2) Independent housing with offsite supports; 3) Supported independent housing with onsite, non-medical supports; 4) Permanent supportive housing with onsite medical support and/or specialized services; 5) Long-term care; and 6) Palliative care/hospice. Study findings provide a template for existing solutions to the diverse shelter/housing needs of OPEH and insight into the gaps in shelter/housing and services that would support OPEH to age-in-the-right place. Policy and practice implications for scaling promising practices will be discussed. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Environmental Gerontology Interest Group.  Utah,United States,3. University of Calgary,Calgary,Alberta,Canada,4. University of Utah,Salt Lake City,Utah,United States While older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH) can have life histories of homelessness or experience homelessness for the first time in later life, understandings of shelter/housing models that meet diverse needs of this population are limited. We conducted a scoping review of the international literature on shelter/housing models available to support OPEH. Through an iterative process of reading and rereading 24 sources (published 1999-2019), findings were organized into 5 categories of shelter/housing models that have been developed to support OPEH: 1) Permanent supportive housing (PSH), including PSH delivered through Housing First, 2) Transitional housing, 3) Shelter settings with medical supports, 4) Drop-in centers, and 5) Case management and outreach. Findings expand our understanding of how a continuum of shelter/housing options are needed to support distinct health and housing needs of diverse OPEH. Policy and practice implications related to integrating health and social care to support OPEH to age-in-the-right-place will be discussed. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Environmental Gerontology Interest Group. Older adults living in rental housing with limited income are at-risk for experiencing life-course disruptions, including social isolation, loneliness and homelessness. To address these needs, one Vancouver-based affordable housing provider for older adults has implemented community development initiatives (CDIs), including resident-led community gardens, workshops, and social events. Based on data from three focus groups, resulting in a total of fifteen participants, this study explored the efficacy of five different CDIs in supporting residents' social connection and sense of community. Findings revealed that CDIs contribute to increased social engagement and inclusion of older adults living in affordable rental housing. In particular, residentled community gardens were identified as the most impactful CDI in supporting both social engagement and inclusion, with the added benefit of addressing resident's food insecurity. We discuss how CDIs can be implemented in various housing settings for low-income older adults as an effective method of supporting aging-in-the-right place. Part of a symposium sponsored by the Environmental Gerontology Interest Group.

RESEARCH TO STRENGTHEN POLICY, PRACTICE, AND ADVOCACY ON HOUSING FOR AGING SOCIETIES
Chair: Emily Greenfield Discussant: Nancy Berlinger Population aging alongside other global trends-such as urbanization, widening economic inequality, and climate change-accelerate the need for systematic efforts to improve housing for diverse individuals, families, and communities as they age. This symposium features gerontological research explicitly designed to advance policy, practice, and advocacy on aging and housing. The first presentation demonstrates the use of data from U.S. surveys to better characterize the nature of current and future challenges in access to affordable, accessible, and safe housing for older adults. The second paper presents findings from a mixed-methods action research project in Toronto involving tenants living in properties managed by the second largest senior housing provider in North America. The paper indicates how findings on facilitators and threats to aging in place directly inform policy implementation on integrated services in Toronto. The third paper presents findings from a longitudinal, in-depth interview study with leaders of age-friendly community initiatives in suburban New Jersey, demonstrating the simultaneous challenges and opportunities of embedding housing advocacy at the local level within broader age-friendly community change efforts. The fourth paper presents three case studies based on interviews with key stakeholders involved with anti-displacement housing preservation and public housing organizing in New York City, highlighting the often invisible work of older, lower income, African American women at the center of advocacy efforts to preserve affordable housing. Guided by interdisciplinary critical work on ethical responses to population aging, the discussant will integrate themes from the papers to propose a framework for research, policy, practice, and advocacy.

CAN THE NATION'S HOUSING SUPPORT A POPULATION SEEKING TO AGE IN PLACE? Jennifer Molinsky, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
While surveys report that most older adults wish to "age in place," the nation's current housing and neighborhoods fall short on several dimensions needed to support independence and health in later life. Drawing from national data (including the American Housing Survey, American Community Survey, Health and Retirement Survey, and Survey of Consumer Finances), we describe the current housing and living situations of older adults and key challenges they face in securing affordable, accessible housing while also securing supportive services. We identify three challenges: the unaffordability of housing, which causes budgetary tradeoffs in healthcare spending; a lack of accessibility features in homes and neighborhoods, which can limit independence and safety, and the low-density location of much of the US housing stock (including that inhabited by older adults), where service delivery is difficult and the potential for isolation is high. We conclude with an overview of the policy implications of these challenges.

PROMOTING AGING IN PLACE IN SOCIAL HOUSING
Christine Sheppard, 1 Tam Perry, 2 Andrea Austen, 3 and Sander Hitzig, 4 1. Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto,Ontario,Canada,2. Wayne State University,Detroit,Michigan,United States,3. City of Toronto,Toronto,Ontario,Canada,4. Sunnybrook Hospital,North York,Ontario,Canada As cities around the globe plan for current and future older cohorts, there is a need to explore innovative housing models to help older adults age in place. This paper presents findings from an action-research academic/community partnership on a new service model at Toronto Community Housing, the second largest social housing landlord in North America and home to 27,000 older adults. As Toronto works to improve delivery of housing/support services, more knowledge was needed to understand the inadequate and inconsistent delivery of services to tenants. Interviews/focus groups with older tenants and service providers (N=116) identified challenges related to unit condition (e.g., pest control) and tenancy management (e.g., arrears), and that the fragmentation of housing and health services negatively impacts older tenants' abilities to access supports and age in place. The presentation will conclude with discussion of planning and policy decision making approaches relevant to both Canadian and American contexts.

OLDER WOMEN CAUSING A RUCKUS: GENTRIFICATION, DISPLACEMENT, AND TENANT ADVOCACY H. Shellae Versey, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, United States
Gentrification is a process through which lower-income neighborhoods experience large-scale investments and an influx of wealthier residents, often displacing lower-income residents. The restructuring of neighborhoods for newer, wealthier residents can compromise belonging, place attachment, and security for existing residents. This study explores resistance to displacement through tenant advocacy and organizing in New York City. This research specifically focuses on the efforts of older, lower-income, African American women, who are most at risk for eviction and housing stability, and yet are at the center of advocacy efforts to preserve affordable, low-income housing. In three case studies, we interview key stakeholders invested in anti-displacement housing preservation, eviction resistance, and public housing organizing to highlight the often invisible work taking place from within socially vulnerable communities. Implications for policy and future directions for applied research are discussed.

SERVICE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION: LEARNING FROM DIVERSE CASE EXAMPLES
Chair: Liat Ayalon Co-Chair: Mary Wyman Discussant: Anne Martin-Matthews The development of health and social services should be based on a thorough needs assessment with all stakeholders, followed by ongoing monitoring of implementation and subsequent short and long term outcomes. Relying on four different service models, this symposium reviews their evaluation processes and summarizes the main lessons learned, in order to inform future efforts. Wyman and colleagues outline efforts to develop culturally-sensitive dementia care services for American Indian and Alaska Native older adults and caregivers using qualitative interviews and community-based participatory research methods. Findings offer guidance for