Rural seniors face growing repair crisis with aging homes

A new Shelterforce report highlights a growing concern for older homeowners in rural America: Housing stability often depends less on affordability than on the ability to maintain aging homes. The report follows Kentucky homeowner Karen Moore, whose leaking roof eventually caused extensive structural damage before help arrived through the Christian Appalachian Project (CAP). “Her roof [had been] leaking, but she couldn’t afford to get the roof repaired,” said Tina Bryson, CAP’s director of communications. “Water dripping through the roof over time rotted out her floor in her kitchen. She told me how she was afraid to go to the bathroom at night because … in the dark, [she] might go through the floor.” Moore’s situation illustrates a broader challenge facing many rural seniors. Older housing stock, fixed incomes, severe weather and rising repair costs can combine to make even basic maintenance financially out of reach. Left unaddressed, relatively minor repairs can escalate into major safety hazards that threaten a homeowner’s ability to age in place. Shelterforce also emphasized the relationship between housing stability and overall health. Financial strain may cause seniors to pos...