Elders/Older Adults Experiencing Homelessness
HUD’s 2010 AHAR points to an estimate of the number of elderly people among sheltered individuals:
- 4.2% of sheltered individuals and 2.8% of the total sheltered homeless population are ages 62 or older in 2010, as compared with 10.3% of individuals living in poverty in 2009.
Data from the 1996 NSHAPC showed that 8% of all homeless clients were age 55 years or olderi.
According to the Homeless Older Adults Strategic Plan for Los Angelesii:
- On any given night, there are 3,000 to 4,000 homeless older adults, 62 years or older, in Los Angeles County
Age, Gender, Race/Ethnicity
A study of 378 older homeless adults in Minnesota showed that:
- 81% were male
- 19% were female
- 51% were persons of color
The Homeless Older Adults Strategic Plan for Los Angeles reports that of the homeless older adults in Los Angeles Countyiii:
- 57% are Black
- 14-15% are Latino
Serious Mental Illness, Substance Use, & Health
A study of older homeless adults in Los Angeles County found thativ:
- 62% of older adults reported a disability of some sort
- 89% of reported disabilities were physical
A study of reported health conditions amongst homeless older adults in Los Angeles County showed that these adults had a variety of health problemsv:
- 60% dental problems
- 50% eye problems
- 50% hypertension
- 50% arthritis
- 40% back problems and/or pain
- 30% diabetes
- 30% heart problems
- 20% depression
- 20% stroke
Among older adults in the Minnesota studyvi:
- 49% reported a serious mental illness
- 31% reported a substance use problem
- 6% reported having a co-occurring mental illness and substance use condition
View the HRC's additional factsheets:
References