Addressing Homelessness Among San Diego's Older Adults

County Supervisors Approve Shallow Subsidy Program to Prevent Senior Homelessness

On February 8, 2022, The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion directing their staff to develop a pilot shallow subsidy program for seniors experiencing homelessness.

Hear more from Serving Seniors President & CEO, Paul Downey:

Addressing Homelessness Among Older Adults

The number of newly homeless in San Diego County doubled in 2020. According to San Diego’s 2020 Point in Time Count, one out of four of San Diego’s homeless adults is over the age of 55.

Among this group of unsheltered older adults, 88% became homeless in San Diego County.
43% are experiencing homelessness for the first time in their lives.
There are 2,000 older adults that are actively homeless, and this number is projected to triple over the next decade.
The number of adults aged 55 and over is projected to grow from 170,000 in 2017 to 225,000 by 2026, with the fastest growth among those 65 and over.

Serving Seniors finds this unacceptable.

HOW YOUR SUPPORT MADE THIS APPROVAL POSSIBLE

Serving Seniors worked closely with San Diego County Supervisors Anderson and Lawson-Remer on a Shallow Subsidy Program for older adults experiencing homelessness. The Board Letter: Addressing Homelessness Among Older Adults was drafted and considered at the San Diego County Board meeting on February 8, 2022. Paul Downey, Serving Seniors President & CEO, also testified during the meeting.

A big thank you to the 150+ people and counting who went online to express your support! You came together to show the Board of Supervisors that San Diegans support and care about senior homelessness!

One of the greatest ways we can improve seniors’ lives is to ensure that our communities are built upon age-friendly public policies. Get involved in our advocacy efforts to combat ageism, promote a positive depiction of aging, and ensure the funding and programs seniors need to thrive.

Why Advocate for Seniors?

"We must advocate for those in our most vulnerable population to be a top priority; their health and well-being depend on it." -Paul Downey, Serving Seniors President & CEO

Everyone is affected by aging policy, whether by financially supporting programs through tax dollars, utilizing aging programs themselves, or acting as a caregiver to an elderly friend and family member. By advocating on behalf of seniors, you can help create an age-friendly community that helps older adults thrive and reduces the financial strain on the community as a whole.

Here are something things you can do today to help advocate for the needs of low-income seniors: