Erin Gaede interviewed for Shelterforce
Erin Gaede, PhD candidate in sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was recently interviewed for an article for Shelterforce, which conducts essential reporting on affordable housing. Titled “The Wobbly Infrastructure Behind Aging in Rural Communities,” the article focuses on how people can age safely in rural areas, as well as what the barriers to aging safely are. Gaede offered her expertise as a researcher of rural Wisconsin communities, noting that housing stock in rural areas tends to be older and more costly to repair, especially for older adults on fixed incomes. She also noted that older housing stock tends to be less accessible. She continued to add that maintenance deferral due to cost can worsen the issues over time.