Elder Pop Grows, Homelessness Worsens

WSJ says “Homelessness Worsens in Older Populations as Housing Costs Take Toll” & Gov’t pandemic aid runs out. Many “never dreamed of being in this horrible situation”, therefore, never planned to minimize risk?

Debbie Sholley is one who “always imagined she'd be living comfortably by the time she reached her golden years. Instead, the 62-yr-old ex-social worker worries she will soon be living on the streets” of Boise after her husband died of Covid in 2020 & her landlord raised the rent more than she can afford. Ailing from various lung problems, she can no longer work, while Social Security & other temp gov’t help is more the safety-net they were intended to be than savior.

The national problem, we’re told, is becoming so acute that shelters & other homeless orgs are in danger of getting swamped, unable to handle the increasing burden. For perspective, consider that at Senior Support Services in Denver, a nonprofit that helps low-income seniors find housing, food & medical services, the number of elderly people signing up to receive case-management services has tripled this year alone. True, better financial planning might help spare some of these folks like Sholley. But, how could she (or most) similarly positioned have planned adequately for the unforeseen Perfect Storm of an early loss of a spouse, job or health; a spiraling national inflation coupled with recession; and local gentrification resulting in unaffordable housing?

Davd Soul