Housing Vulnerable Populations: Demographics of Seniors and

Veterans in Rural Areas

Funded by The Home Depot Foundation and The Atlantic Philanthropies

Presented by:Eric Oberdorfer, Research Associate

HOUSING ASSISTANCE COUNCILApril 22nd, 2014

The Wave Is Coming

*population projection

Seniors in Rural America

Seniors in Rural America

Veterans in Rural America

Veterans in Rural America

Veterans in Rural America

Veterans in Rural America

Veterans in Rural America

Veterans in Rural America

Seniors in Rural America

Housing Issues for Seniors and Veterans in Rural America

Veterans in Rural America

Seniors in Rural America

Housing for Low-Income Rural Seniors

HUD Section 202 – Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program

Dramatic cuts since 2011

Rural Veteran Homelessness

Veterans typically make up a greater percentage of the homeless population in rural America

The HUD-VASH Program in Rural America

Credited in lowering the homeless veteran population by 17.2 percent since 2009

Barriers exist in rural America Distances to VA facilities and other service providers Difficulty enumerating homeless population Only 3 percent of HUD-VASH vouchers are allocated to VA Medical

Centers in rural America

Photo by Carlos Gonzalez Photo by Cathy ten Broeke

Veteran Seniors in Rural America

Rural America is older than the nation overall

In the next ten years, 70 percent of veterans in rural America will be over the age of 65

Housing Accessibility

Critical for senior veterans and veterans with service-related disabilities

Home modificationshelp individuals remain in their homes

Federal grants to assist withmodifications

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