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Background and Objectives Assisted living (AL) constitutes an important sector of residential long-term care, yet there has been limited research about the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in this setting. This qualitative study sought to understand the impact of the early stages of the pandemic (February-August 2020) from AL administrators’ perspectives. Research Design and Methods Semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with 40 AL administrators in Oregon. A stratified sampling method emphasizing rurality, profit status, Medicaid acceptance, and memory care (MC) designation was used to maximize variation in perspectives. We asked eight questions aimed at understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their roles and AL residents and their families, as well as AL operations, such as staffing and resource procurement. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed using an iterative thematic analysis. Results We identified three themes that characterize AL administrators’ response to COVID-19: emotion and burn-out management, information management, and crisis management. Based on their experiences, administrators made suggestions for managing future crises. Discussion and Implications Our findings demonstrate the slow-burning but devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in AL communities similar to recent findings in nursing homes. Coupled with the limited resources, perceived external pressures, and the ongoing pandemic, many administrators were managing but not thriving in these domains. AL as a care setting, and the role of administrators, requires more scholarly and policy attention, especially regarding emergency preparedness and response.

Affordable housing is an important form of income security for low-income older persons. This article describes characteristics of older persons waitlisted for either public housing or a housing choice voucher (HCV; previously Section 8) in Portland, Oregon. 358 persons (32% response rate) completed a mailed survey with questions about demographics, health and housing status, food insecurity, and preference for housing with services. Findings indicate that many waitlisted older persons experienced homelessness or housing instability, poor health, high hospital use, and food insecurity. Public housing applicants were significantly more likely to report lower incomes, homelessness, and food insecurity than HCV applicants. We conclude with policy implications for housing and health agencies that serve low-income older persons.