When people think of homeless individuals, they often think of people who may have substance abuse or mental health problems. They likely don’t think homelessness is becoming an issue for seniors.
Caseworkers at homeless shelters are reporting more instances of individuals 50 and older who suddenly have become homeless. Like some younger homeless people, these individuals may have suffered a job loss, divorce, or health crisis that forced them out of their homes.
These typical issues are simply being exacerbated during a time of inflation that’s seen rents shoot up dramatically. As a result, some shelters are reporting as many as 30 percent of their cases are seniors. Academics who study this issue predict the number of homeless seniors could triple within the next decade.
Nonprofit organizations are stepping up to provide transitional shelter while trying to locate affordable rental housing for homeless people.
Council of Seniors Wants Housing to be More Affordable
Rising rents make better Social Security benefits a must. Here at Council of Seniors, we’re pushing Congress to pass The SAVE Benefits Act. This bill is one way to make up for the Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) that haven’t and aren’t keeping up with inflation. The $581 that should have been paid all along could be coming your way once it passes.
Please sign our petition without delay. Congress needs to recognize the growing number of people who support this bill.
We’d love for you to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter!