This study investigates the extent and nature of housing affordability for elderly nonmetropolitan female heads of household using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics. The results indicate that over one-third of elderly nonmetropolitan female heads of household experience housing poverty and that those who rent, who have fair to poor health, and who are minorities are particularly vulnerable. Housing affordability, measured by the concept of housing poverty, identifies households struggling to meet basic needs while the conventional 25% of income for housing expenditures ratio identifies a larger population. The findings suggest the need for multifaceted public policies to address the problem of housing poverty.

A statewide survey was conducted to determine: 1. the perceived compatibility of solar systems to values, felt needs, and past experiences of households; 2. how perceptions of compatibility relate to the adoption of solar heating systems for the home; and 3. how various segments of the population differ in their evaluation of the compatibility of solar systems. Analysis of variance, with the Least Significant Difference Test, was used to analyze the responses from 912 households within the general population and 105 solar home owners. The findings show that people tend to find solar systems more compatible in meeting broad societal needs than their individual housing needs. A relationship between perceptions of compatibility of solar systems to the adoption of these systems was strongly indicated. Certain segments of the population (those who are younger, highly educated, work in managerial or professional positions, and live in a household of three or more memebers) find solar systems more compatible than others.

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A consortium composed of home economists, architects, engineers, and horticulturists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln undertook a project to develop housing designs that would respond to the current and future needs and desires of people living in Nebraska. The consortium hoped to reduce the considerable gap between the thinking of designers and that of the people for whom they design (users) by linking designers with professionals in social sciences. This article contains a discussion of the user evaluation of the designs and the implications of these and other findings.From the housing designs created in response to user input, two were selected for user evaluation. A third design (that of a manufactured modular home currently on the market in Nebraska) was also included. The results show that the two designs created in response to user input were not, in general, acceptable to these users and that the modular home currently on the market was more acceptable. The findings raise some important questions and challenges for housing and design professionals.

The purpose of this study was to discoverfactors related to elderly persons' perceived difficulty of remaining in their current homes as they grow older. On the basis of the literature review, a conceptual framework was developed to guide the procedure for the research project. Data collected through personal interviews with 192 older persons living in a Midwestern state were examined using analyses of variance with the least significant difference test and chi‐square distributions. The findings suggest that unless older individuals are personally experiencing health and mobility problems, are currently having difficulty performing routine tasks, and/or are livingfurtherfrom services, they are not likely to perceive that it will be difficult to remain in their current homes as they advance in age. They do not appear to take into consideration the absence of support‐relatedfactors thatforce many older persons to leave their homes. Educational programs that help older persons recognize possiblefuture challenges and make appropriate plans are suggested.