Citizen Brief

What your government is doing, plainly

← Feed/Beverly, MA/BevCam — Beverly Community Access · BevCam
CITYBeverly, MA · May 27, 2026

The Housing Crisis for Older Adults

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Panelists describe the current housing crisis, characterized by rapidly rising rents and long waitlists for subsidized housing, disproportionately affecting older women.

The Bottom Line

The gap between rising rents and stagnant subsidized housing availability creates a crisis, leaving many older adults, particularly women, struggling to find affordable and stable housing.

Highlights

  • Affordable housing means housing at a lower than market rate, while subsidized housing is capped at 30% of income.
  • Waitlists for subsidized housing can range from two to five years.
  • Average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Gloucester is $2,300, while the average Social Security is about $2,000.
  • Many older adults face eviction due to rent increases or lapsed payments, and the turnover of rental properties exacerbates the issue.
  • The cost to secure new housing, including first and last month's rent, is a significant barrier.

Key Numbers

  • $2,300 average rent for a one-bedroom in Gloucester
  • $2,000 average Social Security

Source Verification

Beverly, MA | city | Lifebridge Northshore Presents: Together for Women: A Lifebridge Conversation - 05-06-2026

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✓ Quote-grounded
BevCam — Beverly Community Access · BevCam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isY5wR-oiwI
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Quoted passages this brief is built from (3)
  • "So, when you have rents rapidly going up and and evictions constantly, but the number of um subsidized housing stays the same, that creates the crisis we talk about."
    — 11:30
  • "Um I was reading recently what the average rent is in my hometown of Gloucester, Massachusetts. And it's $2,300 a month is the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment. Um I've also read that the average Social Security in the country is about $2,000 a month."
    — 08:55
  • "And as was mentioned, the waitlist can be two to three, sometimes four or five years long."
    — 11:15