| This project focused on housing policy analysis of the elderly. The findings in the literature have shown that the elderly population has increased, that the majority of elderly are homeowners, that past housing policies have emphasized the construction of new housing and rental subsidies. Therefore, the distribution of benefits between the elderly renters and homeowners has resulted in sharp inequities. Policy analysis models and techniques can provide useful instruments in the process, however, no single model or technique can account for all factors influencing public policy.;The data in the trend analysis has been expanded through the 1976 Intercensal Estimating System. Age has been correlated with income, mean housing value, housing units below average and owner occupied units by census tracts. The data have suggested a strong relationship between age and the intervening variables. Hence, it has been inferred that as the number of elderly increases, the number of families below 80% median income, and the number of housing units below average increase in certain tracts. It has been inferred that the number of homeowners has increased, the elderly tend to own lower valued property, they tend to spend less on maintenance despite the greater age of their homes and hence, they are in greater need of repair and they spend a larger fraction of their incomes on housing costs. The deterioration of the existing housing stock in Omaha suggests that previous housing policies have not assisted the elderly homeowners because the policies emphasized the construction of housing and rental subsidies.;Therefore, on the basis of the data in this research project and the literature review, a housing policy for the local government level is proposed that incorporates the housing-services continuum with the objective to assist the elderly homeowners through the Circuit Breaker Program, the Home Improvement Plan and the Housing Annuity Plan in order to preserve the existing housing stock. The statistical base line data for Omaha as well as the DIME file system make it feasible to administer the proposal and funding can be derived from the revenue sharing program and under the 1974 Housing and Community Development Act.;This study focused on the spatial distribution of the elderly in the 95 census tracts in Omaha in order to establish trends and patterns of the target population and to create a statistical data base for the purpose of housing policy analysis. The findings have shown that the elderly population has increased by 61.79% over the 20 year period with the female elderly population increasing at a higher rate. Thus, the trends are indicating an increase in the spatial distribution in various parts of the City. |
