Differences in the Housing Quality of White, Black, and Hispanic U.S. Elderly Households

Abstract

Research has consistently linked minority status with the higher rates of housing problems found among elderly households. Given the projected increase in the relative size of Black and Hispanic elderly population groups, their housing needs are of particular interest to policymakers. Drawing on data from the American Housing Survey, this article assesses how the physical housing conditions of elderly (age 60+) White, Black, and Hispanic homeowners and renters differ and whether these differences persist after controlling for other relevant influences of housing quality. Black elderly households and to a lesser extent Hispanic elderly households were living in worse quality housing than White elderly households. Elderly Hispanic households were also living in overall better housing than elderly Black households. The findings argue for the targeting of elderly Black homeowners and renters and Hispanic owners as housing-deprived groups.