Saying Good-Bye

Brief #10 from the series "Metropolitan Housing and Communities: A Roof Over Their Heads"

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Under the HOPE VI program, many of the most distressed public housing developments in the nation have been demolished or substantially renovated (see page 7). While residents of these communities were often at daily risk of personal injury from violence related to crime, drug trafficking, and gang activity, some, especially older people, were still hesitant to leave the troubled communities they called home. These seniors are often very poor (three-quarters live on less than $10,000 a year) with few housing options. The prospect of moving was particularly difficult for many long-term senior residents who "aged in place," or remained in the neighborhood after raising their children. Despite troubled conditions, physical places can be very important; they provide a connection to social networks and offer a personal sense of belonging and familiarity to older residents (Rowles 1983, 1993).

The question of how seniors handle relocation is an important one. Limited evidence from the urban renewal experience suggests possible grim outcomes when older adults are involuntarily moved, even from blighted communities (Danermark and Ekstrom 1990). The HOPE VI program had the challenge of successfully relocating vulnerable seniors from distressed neighborhoods while maintaining or improving their individual quality of life.

The HOPE VI Panel Study tracks outcomes for original residents at five sites where redevelopment activities began in 2001 (see page 7). Like younger residents of these developments, the senior citizens in the HOPE VI Panel Study are in poor health, and relocation may exacerbate their chronic conditions (Harris and Kaye 2004). Coupled with physical limitations, the mental strain of leaving home, neighbors, and neighborhood may compromise seniors' ability to meet the demands of moving.

This brief describes the relocation experiences of older adults in light of their special circumstances, particularly health, social support, and personal mobility. Findings are based on survey and interview information gathered from adults over age 62 in the HOPE VI Panel Study¹ augmented by 17 additional in-person interviews of adults over age 50 in Chicago and Washington, D.C. The additional interviews explicitly explored how older adults tackled the prospect of moving and the kinds of search support and housing they desired.² The brief concludes with policy implications regarding relocation and housing for older adults.

Notes from this section of the report

1. The HOPE VI Panel Study survey data are based on 95 responses from adults age 62 and older across the five sites. HOPE VI Panel Study interview information is based on interviews with 28 seniors age 62 and older in Chicago and 38 seniors in Washington, D.C.

2. Households included in the additional interviews were purposively sampled to include more families where an older adult cared for a minor child or children.

Note: This report is available in its entirety in the Portable Document Format (PDF).

The nonpartisan Urban Institute publishes studies, reports, and books on timely topics worthy of public consideration. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders.

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