This paper examines the application of the principles of social equity and distributive justice in practice by governments under economic and demographic pressures. The housing policies that benefit the elderly are identified in Canada, the United States, Sweden and France and a policy analysis of the mainstream and targeted policies is carried out. The objectives of this paper are to observe the use of mainstream and targeted policies to house the elderly, to examine how elements benefiting the elderly are incorporated into mainstream policies and to identify the object! ves of targeted elements of policies benefiting the elderly. Governments tend to use mainstream policies and also to use various strategies for adding targeted elements to them. Targeted policies for the elderly are used sparingly. In practice, government actions for social equity and distributive justice are limited to ensuring access to a minimum level of welfare and reducing inequalities.