When most people picture homelessness, they often imagine younger adults or people in midlife. But in cities and towns across the country, a growing number of people sleeping in shelters, vehicles, or on sidewalks are over 60. The face of homelessness is getting older—and the trend is accelerating.
According to recent housing reports, the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population in the United States is adults age 60 and over. In some urban areas, older adults now make up more than a quarter of those experiencing homelessness. Experts warn that without significant policy changes, this group could double in size within the next decade.
This shift isn’t limited to big cities. Rural communities, often with fewer shelters and services, are also seeing more old people without stable housing.
Multiple forces are driving this crisis:
- Rising Housing Costs: Rental prices and property taxes have soared, outpacing Social Security and fixed incomes.
- Medical Expenses: Out-of-pocket healthcare costs can drain savings quickly, leaving little for rent or mortgage payments.
- Loss of a Partner: The death of a spouse or partner can mean a sudden drop in household income and loss of shared housing.
- Job Loss or Age Discrimination: For those still working, losing a job after 60 can make it nearly impossible to find comparable employment.
- Evictions and Foreclosures: Even a short-term financial setback can lead to eviction, especially in areas with tight rental markets.
Add to this the fact that many older adults have no safety net—no nearby family, no savings, and no affordable senior housing available—and the risk of homelessness increases sharply.
Homelessness is dangerous at any age. Living outdoors or in unstable conditions can exacerbate chronic illnesses, injuries, and mental health challenges. Conditions like diabetes or heart disease become harder to manage without refrigeration for medication or a safe place to rest. Exposure to extreme heat or cold can be life-threatening, and limited mobility makes accessing food, hygiene facilities, or medical care more difficult. Older homeless adults also face a higher risk of being victims of crime.
While there are shelters and assistance programs, many aren’t designed with older adults in mind. Shelters may lack accessibility features like ramps or lower bunks, and some require clients to leave during the day, forcing seniors to spend hours outdoors.
Additionally, complicated application processes, long waiting lists for senior housing, and limited transportation can make it difficult for older adults to access the help they qualify for.
Addressing elder homelessness requires both immediate and long-term strategies:
- Expand Affordable Housing: Increase the supply of low-cost, age-friendly housing units.
- Strengthen Eviction Prevention Programs: Offer rental assistance and mediation before older adults lose their homes.
- Provide Health and Social Services in Shelters: On-site medical care, mobility assistance, and case management tailored to seniors’ needs.
- Create Transitional Housing for Seniors: Safe, stable environments where older adults can recover and plan for long-term housing.
- Improve Outreach: Partner with community organizations to connect at-risk seniors with resources before they lose their homes.
Even small actions make a difference. Volunteering at local shelters, donating items like warm clothing or hygiene kits, and advocating for affordable housing policies can help. Checking in on older neighbors who may be struggling is another simple but powerful step.
Elder homelessness is more than a housing problem—it’s a public health crisis and a moral challenge. In a society that often prides itself on respecting and caring for its aging population, the growing number of older adults without a safe place to sleep should alarm us all.
With targeted programs, community involvement, and political will, this trend can be reversed. But without action, more seniors will face their later years without the dignity, stability, and security every person deserves.
Because no one should spend their final decades wondering where they’ll sleep tonight.