As Homelessness Among Seniors Rises, One County’s Approach Offers a Lifeline for Aging in Place
There are more than 138,000 homeless people in America over the age of 55. Many struggle to access services that meet their health and housing needs. However, one program in San Diego County may have found a way to overcome those barriers.
In February 2023, San Diego County launched its Shallow Rental Subsidy Program to help 222 households headed by seniors at risk of experiencing homelessness. The program pays landlords a $500 rental subsidy for 18 months while program participants receive case management from the Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities (HSEC).
A year after it launched, 201 of the initial 222 participating households remain in the program, according to Barbara Jiménez, community operations officer for HSEC. It was also recently highlighted in a recent Government Accountability Office report as an effective tool to prevent seniors from becoming homeless.
“This prevention program provides housing stabilization to this vulnerable group with a goal to prevent them from experiencing homelessness,” Jiménez told Invisible People.
Rising Rates of Homelessness Among Seniors
Since the pandemic began in March 2020, seniors have become one of the fastest-growing subpopulations among people experiencing homelessness. About 20% of the 653,000 people experiencing homelessness are over the age of 55. About half of the older adults experiencing homelessness do so in unsheltered environments.
Despite the growing need for services, there are still significant gaps that many homeless seniors need to overcome. The GAO found older homeless Americans often do not have access to environments that meet their health needs. Those problems were exacerbated during the pandemic as some shelter operators prioritized serving older adults with the highest needs, like those who need electrical outlets for medical equipment.
In other instances, seniors accessed shelters that did not meet their accessibility needs. For example, the GAO visited shelters that did not have bathroom grab bars for seniors to enter and exit the shower.
Homeless seniors who access supportive housing or rapid rehousing options face challenges in affording rent, according to the GAO report. Some homeless seniors may have trouble finding work because of their advanced age or health conditions. The GAO found that they also may face short-term discrimination from landlords, especially those on fixed incomes.
These are some of the issues that San Diego County’s Shallow Rental Subsidy program is designed to address. The program allows seniors to age in place by paying a monthly rental subsidy to their landlord. This can help seniors stay in housing that meets their needs and is close to their support system, including family members and doctors.
“Such a subsidy can be cheaper than providing assistance to those who have become homeless, according to the needs assessment,” the GAO concluded.
San Diego County commissioners approved expanding the pilot program in May 2024. The expansion will serve an additional 160 households, and enrollment began in September, Jiménez said. The two pilots cost the county about $5.2 million, which included subsidies and administrative costs.
Addressing the Health Risks for Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness
Programs like San Diego County’s Shallow Rental Subsidy are becoming more critical as the rate of homelessness among older Americans continues to climb. In San Diego County, about 30% of the more than 10,500 people experiencing homelessness in the county are over the age of 55.
Homelessness can be lethal to people of all ages, but it is especially dangerous to the health of older Americans. This population commonly experiences higher rates of emotional stress and physical stress. Older Americans experiencing homelessness also typically suffer from chronic health conditions caused by infections and social isolation.
These symptoms present increasing issues for behavioral health and medical systems as experts predict the number of homeless elderly folks will triple over the next decade.
“A person who can get back on their feet can be an asset. They can become a contributing member of society. However, that can’t happen without help getting back on their feet in the first place,” Mark Donovan, founder of the Denver Basic Income Project, which serves a lot of elderly homeless folks, told Invisible People.
Looking Toward Sustainable Solutions for Homeless Seniors
As the number of older adults experiencing homelessness continues to grow, San Diego’s Shallow Rental Subsidy Program offers a promising model for other communities. By providing modest rental subsidies and supportive case management, the program helps seniors maintain stable housing, remain close to their support networks, and avoid the dangerous cycle of homelessness. With 90% of its initial participants still in housing after one year, the program demonstrates how targeted assistance can have a lasting impact.
San Diego’s approach underscores the need for compassionate, cost-effective solutions and interventions tailored to meet the specific challenges older adults face. As housing instability among seniors rises, expanding programs like the Shallow Rental Subsidy could be key to safeguarding the health and well-being of this vulnerable population.
Community advocates and policymakers can help by supporting similar preventive solutions, advocating for expanded funding, and championing accessible housing options that allow seniors to age in place with dignity and stability. Addressing senior homelessness will clearly require a sustained commitment from communities nationwide, ensuring that all older Americans have a safe place to call home.
