The Role of the Housing Allowance for the Elderly in Norway: Views of Recipients

This article concerns the housing allowance, an economic benefit provided to low-income households and the elderly in Norway. Ensuring a high quality of housing for the elderly has been a priority in the development of the Norwegian welfare state. This article is based on results from a qualitative study among elderly recipients of a housing allowance. The study shows that while these recipients viewed the financial support the allowance offered as crucial, they still felt impoverished. The study raises some questions about whether the housing allowance scheme encourages high-quality housing.