Cumulative Inequality and Housing Insecurity Severity among Renters in Later Life

Housing insecurity, lack of access to safe and affordable housing, has become a national public health crisis, especially among vulnerable populations such as renters and the aged. For everyone, housing insecurity is associated with poorer mental and physical health and shortened lifespans. With data from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study and ordered logistic regression models, this study examined housing insecurity severity among renters age 50 and older using a CI framework providing explanation of systemic and individual forces result in differential and unequal outcomes dependent on exposure to risk and opportunity. Over half of respondents experienced any level of housing insecurity. Of housing insecure respondents, three out of five were observed as severely housing insecure. Those from urban areas, less than a high school diploma, widows, and over the age of 80 had enhanced odds of experiencing more severe housing insecurity. Additional research is needed to identify other aspects of cumulative inequality that may be related to housing insecurity to better guide policy change with respect to this important issue.