Enhancing Eviction Prevention Supports for Older Adults in Social Housing - MARCH 2023

Data were obtained through in-depth interviews and focus groups with older adult tenants and service providers who support them to better understand the experiences of aging in place in social housing, including the challenges faced and the types of supports needed to maintain successful tenancies 19. [...] These included (1) the need to understand the root cause; (2) the need for more senior-friendly communication; and (3) the need for proactive eviction prevention supports spanning the eviction continuum. [...] Other service providers questioned how units were allowed to get so bad that it would warrant an eviction in the first place and expressed concerns about the focus on “fixing” the unit to mitigate the eviction risk without providing supports for the underlying cause. [...] However, the success of this approach depends not only on the landlord’s ability to understand the underlying root cause leading to the eviction, but also on their ability to build trusting relationships with tenants 34,35 and collaborative partnerships with health and social service agencies 36. [...] Strengths and Limitations This is the first study in Canada to provide an in-depth exploration into the experiences of evictions among low-income older adults living in social housing and the health and social service providers who support them.