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Publications by Robin E. Smith for Retirement Policy

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More about Robin E. Smith's areas of expertise can be found on this Urban Institute expert's page.

This commentary argues that the senior population in public housing today differs from the able bodied adults living independently for whom much of the housing was built in the 1960s and 1970s. Not only are some raising minor children, others are in such poor health that they need affordable housing with an assisted living component. The author calls for housing authorities to assess the health and family status of their older adult residents and plan creative ways to meet current and anticipated housing needs.

Under the HOPE VI program, many of the most distressed public housing developments in the nation have been demolished or substantially renovated, and the program had the challenge of successfully relocating vulnerable seniors in these developments. The question of how seniors handle relocation is an important one, and prior evidence suggests poor outcomes when older adults are involuntarily moved. This brief describes the relocation experiences of older adults in light of their special circumstances, particularly health, social support and social mobility. Findings are based on survey and interview information gathered from older adults in HOPE VI developments in five cities (Atlantic City, NJ; Chicago, IL; Durham, NC; Richmond, CA; and Washington, D.C.).

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