American baby boomers are facing a disturbing trend as they are becoming homeless at a rate not seen since the Great Depression. This alarming situation is driven by a combination of factors including recessions, high housing costs, and a shortage of affordable housing. According to data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, older adults are now the fastest-growing segment of America’s homeless population.
University of Pennsylvania social policy professor Dennis Culhane describes the rise of elderly homelessness as “unconscionable” and compares it to the Great Depression. Dr. Margot Kushel, a professor at the University of California San Francisco, has observed an escalating rate of homelessness among older Americans. She notes that in the early 1990s, only 11% of homeless single adults were aged 50 and older. However, by 2003, that percentage had grown to 37%. Currently, the over-50 demographic represents half of the homeless single adults in the U.S.
The situation has drastically changed as older Americans are now the fastest-rising group experiencing homelessness. This is due to a combination of factors such as multiple recessions depleting savings, insufficient affordable housing, and increasing costs of living. Additionally, finding low-cost assisted living centers is becoming more challenging due to labor shortages, inflation, and reduced funding. Even rent is becoming unaffordable in certain areas.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the issue, with many older adults losing their jobs and struggling to make ends meet. Judy Schroeder, a 71-year-old Florida resident, found herself homeless after her apartment building was sold, and her rent increased by over $500. She had to rely solely on Social Security and couch-surfed for months before finding a new place.
To address this crisis, experts recommend expanding the supply of affordable housing, increasing rental assistance programs, implementing eviction protections, and strengthening renters’ rights. Some cities, like San Diego, have already started pilot programs providing rental subsidies to help older, low-income adults get back on their feet. Additionally, advocates argue for an increase in the federal minimum wage and higher supplements for federal programs like Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance.
Ultimately, the goal is to make homelessness for older adults rare and brief. As Dr. Kushel emphasizes, in a wealthy country like the United States, it is unconscionable for anyone, especially older adults, to experience homelessness. By implementing these measures and prioritizing affordable housing, it is possible to reverse this distressing trend and ensure that older Americans have a secure place to call home in their later years.
