‘Growing Old’ in Shelters and ‘On the Street’: Experiences of Older Homeless People

Homelessness among older people in Canada is both a growing concern, and an emerging field of study. This article reports thematic results of qualitative interviews with 40 people aged 46 to 75, carried out as part of a mixed-methods study of older people who are homeless in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Our participants included people with histories of homelessness (n = 14) and persons new to homelessness in later life (n = 26). Interviews focused on experiences at the intersections of aging and homelessness including social relationships, the challenges of living on the streets and in shelters in later life, and the future. This article outlines the 5 main themes that capture the experience of homelessness for our participants: age exacerbates worries; exclusion and isolation; managing significant challenges; shifting needs and realities; and resilience, strength, and hope. Together, these findings underscore the need for specific programs geared to the unique needs of older people who are homeless.     

Housing hardship and energy insecurity among native-born and immigrant low-income families with children in the United States

The costs for rent and utilities account for the largest share of living expenses, yet these two critical dimensions of material hardship have seldom been examined concurrently in population-based studies. This paper employs multivariate statistical analysis using American Community Survey data to demonstrate the relative risk ratio of low-income renter-occupied households with children experiencing ‘rent burden', ‘energy insecurity', or a ‘double burden’ as opposed to no burden. Findings suggest that low-income households are more likely to experience these economic hardships in general but that specific groups are disproportionately burdened in different ways. For instance, whereas immigrants are more likely to experience rental burden, they are less likely to experience energy insecurity and are also spared from the double burden. In contrast, native-born African Americans are more likely than all other groups to experience the double burden. These results may be driven by the housing stock available to certain groups due to racial residential segregation, decisions regarding the quality of housing low-income householders are able to afford, as well as home-country values, such as modest living and energy conservation practices, among immigrant families. This paper also points to important policy gaps in safety net benefits related to housing and energy targeting low-income households.     

Supportive Housing for Addicted,Incarcerated Homeless Adults

ABSTRACT

Homeless populations often suffer from mental illness, substance abuse, and criminality. Interventions, such as supportive housing, can have positive impacts, although benefits can be limited. This study examined outcomes for clients (N = 102) of a new supportive housing intervention. Use of formal treatment, jail contact, and community stability were compared pre- and post-housing. Jail bookings and residential substance abuse treatment significantly declined post-housing, while clients improved in income level, access to food, and housing stability. Results from official justice and treatment system data suggest that supportive housing can lead to significant changes. Future research is necessary to understand the relationship between client characteristics and outcomes.     

Influence of Late Life Stressors on the Decisions of Older Women to Relocate into Congregate Senior Housing

Late-life stressors often require individuals to make substantial alterations in behavior and lifestyle and can affect their overall health and well-being. Relocation is a significant life stress, regardless of age. The primary aim of this study is to elucidate the push-pull factors associated with moving into congregate senior housing. The secondary aim is to investigate the decision-making processes and stresses associated with moving into a congregate living environment. Interviews were conducted with 26 women who were new residents in congregate senior housing. Relocation, as expected, was considered to be stressful, although individual differences were found among perceptions of relocation stresses. Women who had made the decision to relocate on their own showed evidence of better psychosocial well-being at the time of the move. One-quarter of the sample chose to move to provide care to another person. As the options for senior housing continue to evolve and the number of adults reaching advanced age continues to increase, it is important to understand the factors that contribute to successful adaptation. This knowledge will enable facility administrators to implement programs and procedures to assist incoming residents with acclimating to their new homes.     

A Comparison of Spanish and American Housing Policy Frameworks Addressing Housing for the Elderly

Abstract

Housing policies in Spain and die United States have important similarities and dissimilarities mat affect housing for the elderly. Spain, even more so than me United States, promotes homeownership. Bom countries face significant challenges in addressing the housing needs of the elderly, particularly those challenges associated wim aging in place. The paper reviews me broader housing policy frameworks in bom countries in order to understand me context for elderly housing policy. The paper identifies lessons from the American experience mat can expand housing policies in Spain.     

试论金代的桑税

金代桑税渊源于辽和北宋的桑税制度.金代在继承辽宋桑税制度的同时,也进一步发展了自己的桑税制度.这表现为:一方面金代两税中的全部税绢都依据桑税征收,从而提高了它在两税中的地位;另一方面金代确立了旨在规定民户最低桑税额的桑地制度.金代桑税并非"户调",而是金代土地税的基本内容,也是金代两税的重要组成部分.     

A Dynamic Model of Demand for Houses and Neighborhoods

This paper develops a dynamic model of neighborhood choice along with a computationally light multi‐step estimator. The proposed empirical framework captures observed and unobserved preference heterogeneity across households and locations in a flexible way. We estimate the model using a newly assembled data set that matches demographic information from mortgage applications to the universe of housing transactions in the San Francisco Bay Area from 1994 to 2004. The results provide the first estimates of the marginal willingness to pay for several non‐marketed amenities—neighborhood air pollution, violent crime, and racial composition—in a dynamic framework. Comparing these estimates with those from a static version of the model highlights several important biases that arise when dynamic considerations are ignored.     

中国香港住房保障体系的综述及评估

中国香港实行市场私营和政府公营的双轨制住房供应体系。对该体系中的政府公营保障性住房部分进行研究。自20世纪50年代从私人救灾力量中萌芽,香港保障性住房经过半个多世纪的发展,至今呈现出横向覆盖多样化,纵向保障一条龙的格局特征。总体来说,目前中国香港保障房体系处于良性运行状态,但在配屋效率和流转公平上还存在诸多问题,而该体系从宏观模式上对中国内地借鉴意义不大,内地只能学习其管理经验而不能复制其运行模式。     

人民币加入ＳＤＲ 预期对其国际化的影响

一国货币的国际化程度主要体现在其国际影响力及对国际主要国家货币汇率波动的反应程度。人民币纳入ＳＤＲ 货币篮子将会改变人民币在国际货币金融体系中的地位与作用,从而影响人民币国际化程度。基于２０１５ 年８ 月１１ 日至２０１６ 年３ 月１６ 日的样本区间数据,通过构建ＶＡＲ模型实证检验人民币加入ＳＤＲ 预期因素对人民币国际化程度的影响。结果发现：第一,人民币加入ＳＤＲ 预期能够提升人民币在国际货币金融体系中的影响力,尤其是人民币对美元的影响力将大大增加,但是其对世界其他主要货币的影响力仍显不足;第二,样本区间内,人民币自由化程度并没有提升,因为人民币汇率并没有随着世界主要货币汇率的波动而有所变化。     

房产免税立法与税收公平的归位

房产税法律制度的改革折射的是社会演进与经济发展的必然趋势。经济发展加剧了社会成员间资源占有的不公平,但是房产税法律制度的发展却并没有弥合资源分配的不公平,反而在多元利益的指导下出现了三种维度的不公平：政府与市场之间的不公平、中央与地方之间的不公平以及居住者和投机者之间的不公平。刚性的税法常常为社会、经济所不融,免税的设计恰好可以弥补税法柔性的不足,在确保财政收入的情况下兼顾社会公平的维护,这也是深化财税体制改革背景下税法变革的秩序要求。房产税法律制度的变革应以量能课征为依据,以税收中性为准绳,区分房产的普遍性与特殊性,达成税收公平的改革效果。