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Homelessness Among Elderly People
Between 1980 and 1993, the total number of older households in the United
States --that is, households headed by someone over the age of 65 -- increased
by 31% (Gaberlavage and Sloan, 1997). Among this growing population are
older adults who have grown old on the street, those who have recently
become homeless, and others at risk of displacement from their homes.
DEFINITIONS AND DIMENSIONS
Definitions of aged status vary from study to study; however, there is
a growing consensus that persons aged 50 and over should be included in
the "older homeless" category. Homeless persons aged 50-65 frequently
fall between the cracks: they are not old enough to receive Medicare,
but their physical health, aggravated by poor nutrition and severe living
conditions, may resemble that of a 70-year-old.
A
1992 Urban Institute study found that 31% of homeless persons were over
the age of 45 (Burt, 1992); other studies have found proportions of homeless
persons aged 55 to 60 ranging from 2.5% to 19.4% (Institute of Medicine,
1988). Although the proportion of older persons among the homeless population
has declined over the past two decades, their absolute number has grown
(Cohen, 1996).
CAUSES
Increased homelessness among elderly persons is largely the result of
the declining availability of affordable housing and poverty among certain
segments of the aging. Of the 12.5 million persons in households identified
by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as having "worst
case housing needs," 1.5 million are elderly people (U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development, 1998)..1 Among households with very
low incomes, households with an elderly head of household have almost
a one-in-three chance of having worst case needs, despite the fact that
housing assistance has been heavily directed toward elderly people. Thirty-seven
percent of very-low-income elderly people receive housing assistance.
The
total number of elderly with very low incomes dropped between 1993 and
1995 by about 300,000 (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,
1998). This drop may reflect a growing portion of the elderly population
protected from severe poverty by Social Security and private pensions.
A recent analysis of Census data found that withouth Social Security,
nearly half (47.6%) of Americans age 65 or over would have been poor in
1997 (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 1999). In fact, Social Security
reduced the poverty rate among elderly people in 1997 by 11.9%, and lifted
11.4 million elderly people out of poverty.
Still,
many elderly people are poor and in need of housing assistance. While
elderly people have a lower poverty rate than the general population (10.5%
compared to 13.3% for all people), they are more likely than the nonelderly
to have incomes just over the poverty threshold (U.S. Bureau of the Census,
1998). Seventeen percent of elderly people had family incomes below 125
percent of poverty. Sixty-five percent of older renters, 71% of older
single female renters, 71% of older Hispanic renters, and 69% of older
African-American renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing
(Gaberlavage and Citro, 1997).
With
less income for other necessities such as food, medicine, and health care,
these populations are particularly vulnerable to homelessness. Overall
economic growth will not alleviate the income and housing needs of elderly
poor people, as continuing or returning to work, or gaining income through
marriage, are often unlikely.
Isolation
also contributes to homelessness among older persons; older persons are
almost twice as likely than younger homeless persons to have been living
alone prior to losing their home (Cohen, 1996).
CONSEQUENCES
Once on the street, elderly homeless persons often find getting around
difficult, and, distrusting the crowds at shelters and clinics, they are
more likely to sleep on the street. Some studies show that homeless persons
who are elderly are prone to victimization and more likely to be ignored
by law enforcement. A study from Detroit, for example, found that almost
half of older homeless persons had been robbed and one-fourth had been
assaulted within the preceding year (Douglass, 1988). Older homeless persons
are also more likely to suffer from a variety of health problems, including
chronic disease, functional disabilities, and high blood pressure, than
are other homeless persons (Cohen, 1996).
PROGRAM AND POLICY ISSUES
Most older homeless persons are entitled to Social Security benefits;
however these benefits are often inadequate to cover the cost of housing.
In 1998, on a national average, a person receiving Suplemental Security
Income (SSI) benefits had to spend 69% of his or her SSI monthly income
to rent a one-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent; in more than 125
housing market areas, the cost of a one-bedroom apartment at Fair Market
Rent was more than a person's total monthly SSI income (Technical Assistance
Collaborative & the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities Housing
Task Force, 1999). In most states, even if the SSI grant does cover the
rent, only a few dollars remain for other expenses. Moreover, some homeless
persons are unaware of their own eligibility for public assistance programs
and face difficulties applying for and receiving benefits. Elderly homeless
persons in particular often need help navigating the complex application
process.
To
prevent elderly Americans from becoming homeless, we must provide enough
low-income housing, income supports, and health care services to sustain
independent living. For those older adults who have already lost their
homes, comprehensive outreach health and social services must be made
available, as well as special assistance to access existing public assistance
programs. Finally, like all people who are homeless or at risk of becoming
homeless, elderly people need an adequate income, affordable housing,
and affordable health care in order to stay securely housed.
FOOTNOTES
1."Worst case needs" refers to those renters with incomes below
50% of the area median income who are involuntarily displaced, pay more
than half of their income for rent and utilities, or live in substandard
housing. [Back].
RESOURCES
Burt, Martha and Barbara Cohen. America's Homeless: Numbers, Characteristics,
and Programs that Serve Them, 1989. Available for $9.75 from The Urban
Institute, Publications Orders, 2100 M St. NW, Washington, DC 20037; 202/833-7200.
Belden,
Joseph N. A Handbook: Housing Programs and Services for Elders in Rural
America -- A Review of Conditions, Programs and Services, 1992. Available
for $12 from the National Resource Center for Rural Elderly, University
of Missouri-Kansas City, 5100 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, MO 64110-2499;
816-235-1024.
Cohen,
Carl I. "The Aging Homeless," 1996. SUNY Health Science Center,
Box 1203, 450 Clarkson Ave., Brooklyn, NY, 11203. Available from author.
Gaberlavage,
George and Katie Smith Sloan. Progress in the Housing of Older Americans,
1997. Available, free, from the American Association of Retired Persons,
601 E. St., NW, Washington, DC 20049; 202/434-2277.
Institute
of Medicine. Homelessness, Health, and Human Needs, 1988. Available (paperback)
for $28.95 from National Academy Press, Box 285, 2101 Constitution Ave.,
NW, Washington, DC 20055; 1/800-624-6242.
Kaufman,
Tracy L. Out of Reach: Rental Housing at What Cost?, 1997. Available for
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NW, #610, Washington, DC, 20005-3410; 202/662-1530.
Keigher,
Sharon M. et al. Housing Risks and Homelessness Among the Urban Elderly,
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Inc., Haworth Document Delivery Center, 10 Alice St., Binghamton, NY 13904-1580;
800/342-9678.
Ladner,
Susan. "The Elderly Homeless", in Homelessness: A National Perspective,
1992 (ISBN 0306-437-899). Robertson, Marjorie and Milton Greenblatt, eds.
Available for $52.00 (estimated S/H charge included) from Plenum Publishing,
233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013; 800/221-9369.
O'Connell,
James J. et al. "The Homeless Elderly," in Under the Safety
Net, 1990 (ISBN 0 393-308-758). Brickner, Philip W. et al., eds. Available
for $17.95 (paperback) from W.W. Norton & Co., Inc., 800 Keystone
Industrial Park, Seranton, PA 18512; 800/233-2584.
Older
Women's League (OWL). Room for Improvement: The Lack of Affordable, Adaptable,
and Acceptable Housing for Midlife and Older Women, 1993. Available for
$8.80 from OWL, 666 11th St., NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001; 202/783-6686.
Regnier,
Victor and Julie Culver. Resource Guide on Single Room Occupancy Housing
for Older People, 1994. Available for $12.00 from the National Resource
and Policy Center on Housing and Long Term Care, Andrus Gerontology Center,
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Rich,
Diane Wiatt, Thomas A. Rich, and Larry Mullins. Old and Homeless - Double
Jeopardy: An Overview of Current Practice and Policies, 1995 (ISBN 08-656-92-467).
Available for $53.95 from Auburn House, c/o Greenwood Publishing Group,
Inc., P.O. Box 5007, Westport, CT 06881-5007; 800/225-5800.
Technical
Assistance Collaborative, Inc. and the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
Housing Task Force. Priced Out in 1998: The Housing Crisis for People
with Disabilities, 1999. Available from the Technical Assistance Collaborative,
One Center Plaza, Suite 310, Boston, MA 02108; 617/742-5657.
U.S.
Bureau of the Census. Poverty in the United States: 1997. Current Population
Reports, Series P60-201, 1998. Available, free, from U.S. Bureau of the
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or at http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty.html.
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Report to Congress on Worst Case Housing Needs, 1998. Available for $5.00
from HUD User, P.O. Box 6091, Rockville, MD, 20850, 800/245-2691.
Last
updated - June 1999 - National Coalition for the Homeless
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