Homeless Older Adults Strategic Plan

March 24, 2008

Homeless Older Adults Strategic Plan

Homeless Older Adults Strategic Plan has been published by Shelter Partnership.

This publication by Shelter Partnership examines the unique population of older adults in LA County who are currently homeless. Included in the publication: survey of characteristics of the older homeless population (ages, disabilities, sources of income, race/ethnicity, duration of homelessness, and more), recommendations on ending homelessness (involving access to housing, outreach, advocacy), a literature review, interviews with affordable housing funders as well as service providers, best practices of different organizations that house older homeless adults, and more.

Selected Findings:

• On any given night, there are 3,000 to 4,000 older homeless persons, (aged 62 and over) in LA County.
• 62% of older homeless persons have some kind of disability (either physical, mental or both).
• More than a quarter of homeless older adults (28%) in LA County are veterans (almost twice as high as the general homeless population in the county).
• The average monthly income of homeless adults who had at least some income was $773.
• Almost a quarter of homeless older adults reported having some college education.