More Older Adults are Homeless—What Can Be Done to Help this Vulnerable Population with Unique NeedsImage

Homelessness in the U.S. reached a record high in 2024, according to a new annual point-in-time count released in December by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). More than 770,000 people experienced homelessness on a single night in 2024, an increase of about 18% compared to 2023.

About 20% of those experiencing homelessness (or one in five) were older adults, ages 55 and up.

The combination of growing homelessness and an aging U.S. population has raised concerns about the supports and programs available to help older adults experiencing homelessness.

Today's WatchBlog post looks at our recent report on the challenges in providing supports to older adults and the obstacles many older adults face in accessing help.

Older adults may have a harder time accessing homelessness supports and services

About 146,000 older adults experienced homelessness, according to HUD-an increase of about 6% from 2023.

Many older adults have mobility issues or health conditions that make it harder for them to access shelters and find housing than younger populations. For example, older adults with mobility limitations may struggle to use bunk beds often used at shelters. Older adults may also have functional impairments and need assistance with daily living activities, such as eating and using the bathroom. But shelters are generally designed for people who don't need such supports.

Example of a Shelter's Bunk Beds and Shower Area with Raised Threshold

We interviewed older adults experiencing homelessness, as well as shelter staff and other service providers, to get a better idea of the challenges this population faces. Some older adults described difficulty getting around in shelters, such as slipping on wet bathroom floors or having to sleep on floor mats. Shelter staff and other providers told us that they have taken steps to better serve older adults. For example, some shelters eliminated bunk beds or increased space between beds for wheelchairs or medical equipment. Other providers tailored services to accommodate older adults' needs. But providers may not have room or resources to adapt their facilities or offer additional supports.

What more can be done to help older adults?

With the rise in homelessness among older adults, it is critical to address the special needs of this population.

The Department of Health and Human Services, HUD, and other agencies have collaborated to provide communities training and technical assistance to help better serve this population. This effort aims to help communities leverage resources for housing, Medicaid-funded home and community-based services, and other supports to address older-adult homelessness.

However, we found that more could be done to improve these agencies' collaboration. In our report, we made recommendations to help strengthen this collaborative effort by setting clear goals and collecting information to assess progress.

Learn more about our work on this issue and the challenges older adults experiencing homelessness face by reading our full report.

• GAO's fact-based, nonpartisan information helps Congress and federal agencies improve government. The WatchBlog lets us contextualize GAO's work a little more for the public. Check out more of our posts at GAO.gov/blog.
  
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