BOSTON -- Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey interrupted a vacation to answer some tough questions about comments made about senior housing.

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Janet Wu Reports On Healey

NewsCenter 5's Janet Wu reported that Healey came under fire after suggesting that senior citizens were contributing to the state's housing crunch by staying in suburban homes instead of moving to cities or town centers.

In an interview with the Statehouse News Service published Monday, Healy said: "My opinion is that to extend tax breaks to seniors in order to keep them overhoused and isolated in the suburbs is not necessarily the right answer ... they're probably aging in homes that are too expensive or difficult for them to maintain and where the property taxes are larger than their fixed incomes. Plus, they may have three or four bedrooms and only be using one of them. There are families that need that housing."

On Tuesday, Healey would not directly address the quote or its accuracy.

"In a larger context of the discussion around options for seniors, and one of the most important options for seniors also to provide tax relief for those who would like to stay in their homes and age in their homes," she said.

"My question to anybody in government is where are the resources to build the housing for families? That is what the issue really is. Not to force (seniors) out of where they are happy," said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.

"Indeed we have a housing crisis in the state, but to suggest that our seniors should go elsewhere, I think is probably the wrong approach," said Elderly Affairs Chairwoman Sen. Susan Tucker.

Healey did not say she was misquoted, but that her comments were misinterpreted. She said the administration has several options to ease the housing crisis. But housing advocates accuse Gov. Mitt Romney of focusing too much on middle and upper class housing prices, and not enough on low-income housing.

"Affordable housing is in desperate need now -- not necessarily these houses that are $500,000 or $600,000 in the suburbs that the seniors would be moving out of," said Tom Callahan of the Affordable Housing Alliance.

Healey said the state would never force seniors from their homes and it would have to be their choice to leave.