Point In Time Count Results Pinpoint Solutions to Address Older Adult Homelessness

May 20, 2025

Contact:          Gayle Lynn Falkenthal, APR, Fellow PRSA – Serving Seniors

                        619-997-2495 or gfalkenthal@gmail.com

Point In Time Count Results Pinpoint Solutions To Address Older Adult Homelessness  

Serving Seniors, a San Diego based nonprofit organization dedicated to serving low-income and homeless adults aged 60 and over, issued an urgent call for attention to specific solutions to address the needs unique to the older adult homeless population, identified among the growth in homelessness reported in the newly released 2025 Point in Time Count (PITC) data today by the Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH).

Serving Seniors President & CEO Melinda Forstey says the latest PITC brings mixed news. “While it is encouraging to see that overall homelessness has declined, the continued rise in homelessness among older adults is deeply concerning,” said Forstey. “This year, older adults now make up a full third of the region’s homeless population. This number has grown steadily over the past several years, with a five percent increase this year and a sharp rise overall since 2022.”

The report identifies internal trends demonstrating the changing nature of older adult homelessness. Increasingly, this population is composed of more women than men, with more seniors living in vehicles. Additionally, a larger proportion of people who are in congregate shelter settings are age 55 and up (24%).

Trends Signals A Call To Action

The continuing trend reinforces information first reported in the 2021 Serving Seniors Needs Assessment. “Behind these numbers are real people, the grandparents, neighbors, and longtime community members who have contributed to society and now find themselves without a safe place to call home,” notes Forstey. “Most are not unhoused due to personal choices, but because of economic hardship such as the loss of a spouse, a job, a medical crisis, or rising rents that outpace fixed incomes.

“Seeing an increase in adults over 55 living in their vehicles is a troubling early warning sign. Living in a vehicle is a common first stop on the path to losing all shelter. One in five older adults experiencing homelessness is using a car or other vehicle as housing,” explained Forstey.

Focus on Prevention and Housing Effective In Solving Older Adult Homelessness

Proven prevention strategies like shallow rental subsidies, one-time emergency assistance, and family reunification programs have helped stabilize housing for older adults. These programs work. Shallow rental subsidy pilot programs offered on a limited basis by the City of San Diego and County of San Diego are effective and cost-efficient.

In addition to scaling up these safety net and prevention programs, shelter systems must adjust to meet the needs of an aging population. Age-friendly shelters address mobility, health conditions, and safety, which are essential to providing dignified, appropriate care.

Serving Seniors presses elected and community leaders to emphasize proven, cost-effect prevention measures to prevent older adults from losing housing, including shallow rental subsidy programs and one-time diversion funding.

Often, one-time diversion funds can provide a safety net to an older adult on the brink of eviction due to job loss, death of a spouse, or a medical emergency, allowing them to stay in their current homes.

The long-term solution is to lower the cost of building affordable housing and streamlining the timeline for approvals and construction to make more options available.

From a taxpayer perspective, shallow rental subsidies and other supportive programs are offer a viable opportunity to help those struggling to help themselves to lift them up. From a humanitarian standpoint, Serving Seniors sees these efforts as a must.

About Serving Seniors

Founded in 1970, Serving Seniors is a San Diego based nonprofit organization dedicated to serving low-income and homeless adults aged 60 and over. Serving Seniors is a recognized national authority on older adult homelessness. Its innovative service model offers comprehensive support including nutritious meals, housing, health and social services to thousands of seniors in need. It is the largest provider of meals to older adults in the San Diego region at 1.4 million meals annually. Read Serving Seniors’ groundbreaking report, Senior Homelessness: A Needs Assessment.