LSC podcast: AARP and Legal Counsel for the Elderly urge more housing options to help seniors age in place

Ron Flagg, president of the Legal Services Corporation, hosted an episode of the LSC podcast Talk Justice that focused on seniors’ ability to "age in place" and the legal and social services that help them remain housed.

Rhonda Cunningham Holmes, executive director of Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE), described LCE’s combined legal and social-work approach for Washington, D.C. older adults, saying: "We champion the dignity and the rights of Washington, DC older adults." She said LCE serves people age 60 and over—particularly those at or near poverty—and that pro bono attorneys and social workers help LCE reach more than 10,000 people annually.

The episode contrasted two types of cases that affect housing stability. Host Ron Flagg framed the distinction as direct housing cases—most commonly eviction—and non-housing civil matters such as employment loss or medical debt that can spiral into housing problems. Holmes said housing matters made up roughly 20–22% of LCE’s caseload in the past five years, and described how LCE resolves problems by combining legal advocacy and social supports.

Holmes illustrated the work with two client examples. In one, a 61-year-old bus driver who suffered a stroke could not return to work and fell behind on rent; LCE’s attorney and social worker negotiated with the landlord so the client could move to an affordable unit and have arrears waived, avoiding an eviction record. In another case, a grandmother living on the third floor of an apartment building repeatedly faced elevator outages and persistent mold; Holmes said LCE had both counterclaims on nonpayment and tenant petitions seeking damages and reasonable accommodations.

Rodney Harrell, vice president on family, home, and community at AARP’s Public Policy Institute, framed the issue with survey and demographic data: "Roughly three quarters of folks 50 and older wanna stay in their homes and communities," he said, and "about 44% don't believe they'll be able to do that," largely because of housing costs and communities not designed for aging. Harrell also cited AARP analysis estimating that about 187,000 adults ages 55 and older experience homelessness in a given year (2025 census analysis).

Both guests emphasized nonlegal supports. Holmes described LCE’s Homebound Elderly Legal Project (HELP), in which lawyers visit homebound clients to address benefits, mobility and safety concerns, calling it "a legal house call." She said social workers help clients gather documentation, obtain benefits and resolve nonlegal barriers to stable housing so attorneys can focus on legal representation.

The guests discussed pandemic-era policies that reduced evictions, noting LCE’s role in helping clients enforce moratoria and apply for rental assistance. Holmes highlighted the practical consequences of eviction records, explaining landlords often screen applicants for past evictions and that removing or resolving records can be essential to a client’s ability to rehouse.

Both speakers urged policy and community responses: maintain and expand subsidized housing, encourage diverse housing types such as accessory dwelling units, and adapt homes so older adults can safely remain where they live. Harrell summarized the policy imperative: "We as a country need more housing options," and called for action across local, state and national leaders.

Holmes closed by asking attorneys to volunteer: she said only about 10% of tenants in court are represented compared with roughly 90% of landlords, and that representation materially improves housing outcomes. Harrell directed listeners to AARP’s Future of Housing resources at futureofhousing.aarp.org for research and examples of local innovations.

The episode concluded with the standard LSC disclaimer that guest views are their own and that the discussion is informational, not legal advice.