During December 2022, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released its Annual Homeless Assessment Report, which revealed that on any given night, more than 500,000 people in America were homeless in 2022. The statistics show a 0.3% increase in homelessness between 2020 and 2022. Despite significant federal measures through policies such as the Emergency Rental Assistance program, more and more people are facing the reality of being unable to find stable housing.
While the 2022 HUD report provided a meaningful national-level snapshot of homelessness in America, it neglected to highlight notable issues of rising homelessness within specific demographic populations. Notably, the 2022 HUD report did not categorize the homeless based on age. A recent study led by Dr. Margot Kushel, director of UCSF’s Center for Vulnerable Populations and Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, revealed that between the years 1990 and 2003, the percentage of homeless individuals over the age of 50 increased by 26%. A report written by Dr. Thomas Byrne at Boston University in 2019 additionally revealed that homelessness among the elderly was projected to triple within the next decade.
With the homeless population growing increasingly older over recent years, homelessness among the elderly has grown to be an epidemic amongst American retirees. While the homeless population has long been dominated by single men, homelessness among older women of color specifically has also been on the rise. As the homeless population continues to evolve, so must the preventative measures aimed at addressing the issue.
While data regarding homelessness among the elderly is limited, there is significant cause for concern. Jeff Olivet, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, made recent statements explaining that homelessness among the elderly may be exacerbated by stagnant incomes, lost spouses, and rising housing costs. In particular, he points out that in many of these cases, individuals are experiencing homelessness for the first time. Additionally, the elderly tend to have significant medical costs which may hinder their ability to pay for housing or work in better paying jobs. Notably, a large percentage of the elderly population have disabilities, which is a population that has well-documented high rates of homelessness.
Within the elderly population, women of color seem to be at significant risk for homelessness. In a recent study by the Gerontology Institute at UMass Boston, it was reported that 64% of single women ages 65 and older in Massachusetts are economically insecure. Nationwide, this population includes more than 60% of black, Hispanic, and Asian women over the age of 65 years old. Dr. Jan Mutchler, director of the Gerontology Institute, points to earlier deaths of spouses for women of color and the longer lifespans of women when compared to men as potential causes. Additionally, childcare and fewer economic opportunities earlier in life drives up the risk of homelessness within this population. With a current shortage of women-only homeless shelters in the area, many elderly women may find significant difficulty finding safe, comfortable temporary housing options in the Boston area as well.
The rise of homelessness within the elderly has significant potential to disproportionately affect the Chinese immigrant population. Dr. Ling Xu from the University of Texas at Arlington analyzed in his paper “Exploration of Social Exclusion among Older Chinese Immigrants in the USA” how older Chinese immigrants face significant issues of social exclusion from basic social and health care services.
After interviewing 24 older Chinese immigrants, Xu found that many of these seniors were having significant issues connecting with social systems, accessing suitable healthcare insurance, and finding safe and stable housing. In addition to these issues, these seniors face significant feelings of isolation and an inability to connect with others in their neighborhood, compounding with already existing issues of financial instability. Data on homelessness within the Chinese elderly is limited, which as Xu points out, may be a consequence of the “model minority myth”, leaving the stories of this population largely unheard.
Currently, the Biden-Harris Administration is working on legislation aimed to reduce rising homelessness by 25% by 2025. In a statement released by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, President Biden claims that his “plan offers a roadmap for not only getting people into housing but also ensuring that they have access to the support, services, and income that allow them to thrive”, aiming to provide an alternative to the increasing criminalization of homelessness. While the plan was developed with input from more than 500 people who had at one point experienced homelessness, it is currently unclear how the administration plans to deal with specific housing issues for the elderly.
While the federal government may provide some sweeping regulation to assist with the issue of homelessness among the elderly, many have already taken measures to find housing alternatives to fit their own lifestyles. In July 2022, Jason Lalljee from Insider reported on a local 25 year old in Boston choosing to live in the same home as a 64 year old woman, paying only a fraction of her rent while providing financial and emotional support for her housemate. Many across the country have taken to similar arrangements, finding that subletting housing across generations serves potential benefits for both parties involved.
Many local nonprofits have also gotten involved in helping to house the elderly. This March, according to reporting by Tori Bedford from GBH, the housing nonprofit 2Life Communities plans to build new government-subsidized housing options aimed towards seniors to help provide the elderly with suitable living environments. 2Life plans to open this housing development in 2025, and aims to help relieve the burden of the current housing crisis off of some of the seniors of Boston.
In early 2023, Mayor Michelle Wu additionally announced that among the 800 affordable housing units being developed across the city, 160 would be designated for senior citizens. While there is still significant work to be done to ensure that seniors have appropriate housing options, governmental policies and nonprofit work seems to be pushing in the right direction to begin to address this issue. As the homeless population continues to grow older, it is up to the current working generation to come up with new, innovative solutions to reduce increased homelessness for generations to come.
