Silver Linings amid Cutbacks: Older Adults Facing Welfare State Retrenchment

Advancements in modern technology have contributed to increased life expectancy; however, this longevity does not necessarily correlate with an enhanced quality of life in old age. This discrepancy is particularly pronounced among populations experiencing poverty or suboptimal housing conditions. As part of an ongoing participatory research project focusing on individuals living in persistent poverty in times of crisis, we have examined how these individuals endure extreme circumstances during emergencies, specifically during the Covid-19 lockdowns and the ongoing war.

In this paper, we address a specific subgroup: elderly individuals who reside in public housing or are awaiting housing solutions. Our methodological approach, aiming at foregrounding lived-knowledge, incorporates in-depth interviews and self-documentation techniques. The research team comprises academics and women activists who themselves have firsthand experience of poverty.

In recent decades, driven by neoliberal policies Israeli welfare state has been undergoing major transformations. Most vulnerable to these are individuals in need of housing solutions, as the state seeks to transfer the burden of housing to the private markets. Consequently, the stock of state-owned flats is shrinking and the budget allocated towards rental assistance diminishes. Notions of social justice and social citizenship give way to principles of economic efficiency and individual responsibilisation. According to both governmental and nongovernmental data, this shift impacts all vulnerable populations, and more severely, the elderly.

The objective of this presentation is to elucidate preliminary findings based on interviews conducted prior to the self-documentation phase. More precisely, we seek to not only share insights regarding our participants' perspectives on the issue at hand but also to investigate the motivations and anticipated benefits that elderly individuals perceive in participating in this research. Through this exploration, we aim to shed light on the potential value of participatory research methodologies in understanding and addressing the complex challenges faced by this vulnerable demographic.