The article highlights the alarming rise in homelessness among older adults, particularly those aged 65 and older, in Miami-Dade County and across the U.S. The number of seniors accessing homelessness services has increased drastically, with a noted 36% spike from 2019 to 2022. In Miami-Dade, seniors make up 14% of the homeless population, which is expected to rise to 22% by 2030. Factors contributing to this crisis include rising housing costs that exceed fixed incomes and a lack of affordable housing, exacerbated by natural disasters and economic challenges.
Nationwide, the number of people older than 64 accessing homelessness services, like emergency shelters, ballooned by 20,000 - a 36% spike - between 2019 and 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Older adults are one of the fastest-growing homeless demographics. People 65 and older constitute 14% of Miami-Dade's 3,800-person homeless population, according to the Homeless Trust, the county's homeless services agency - nearly double the 8% represented in 2019.
The Trust expects that number to grow to 22% by 2030, indicating a troubling trend that highlights the urgent need for resources and housing solutions tailored to older adults.
To blame are rising costs, particularly for housing, that outpace many older people's fixed incomes. Natural disasters and a lack of affordable housing compound these challenges.
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