Advantages and Disadvantages of Shared Housing

This article reviews recent developments in the field of shared housing by the elderly, differentiating 3 types of shared housing by their level of association with social service agencies. An examination of the stated advantages and disadvantages of sharing, reported by 79 occupants of agency-assisted and agency-sponsored shared housholds in the Washington, D.C. area, leads to consideration of the varied roles of this housing option and possible variations in the development of shared housing programs.