Homelessness and Aging

The face of American homelessness is changing — into an older one.

People 50 and older make up more than 30 percent of the nation’s homeless population.The advanced age of this country’s homeless requires us to revisit and adapt outdated assistance programs that were designed to address the needs of a much younger group and fail to account for medical, social, and emotional needs that emerge later in life.

In October 2020, a collaborative was formed in Central Texas to find ways to address the special needs of this aging homeless population. Members include representatives from both the aging and homeless space in non-profit, for-profit and governmental organizations. Participants include: Family Eldercare, Adult Protective Services, ECHO, Integral Care, UT School of Nursing and Social Work, Front Steps, Salvation Army, City of Austin Public Health, SAFE, Area Agency on Aging, Drive a Senior ATX, Central Health, Texas Health Action, Coming of Age, Care Patrol and Joy Of Life Home Health and Hospice.

The goals of the collaborative include:

Education of and outreach to key service providers as to the resources available for both aging and homelessness
Stimulation of collaboration between member organizations to address gaps in resources
Exploration and possible development of housing options for individuals 50+ experiencing homelessness
Interagency brainstorming on specific client issues
Data gathering and mapping of resources

For more information or to join, info@agingiscool.com.