The Homeless Elderly

Jo C.

i saw this report regarding the Homeless Elderly; it certainly presents something that one does not hear about:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/seniors-flooding-homeless-shelters-cant-162941381.html

It is stunning to me that this has not been a significant publicized part of the dynamics re the homeless population issues. it is a significant issue within a significant issue.

How grateful for the roofs over our heads and for the food in our cupboards and so, so much more.

J.

Iris L.

How horrible! Another neighbor of mine, age 73, lived in her car for several months before finding housing in a group home. She still has to work to make ends meet. She's fortunate because for now, she is okay. But how long can this last? She's not the only one, there are a lot of older ladies where she lives, one step up from homelessness.

Iris

Jo C.

How awful and insecure for her; I am sorry for that lack of security and how worriesome it has got to be. That is a huge gap in our social support system and it is really frightening in some ways.

While that article did point out some of those elderly homeless had mental health or drug and/or alcohol issues, not all of them did. Some just did not have adequate resources.

We have not built in adequate living resources for this population and it could happen to anyone if circumstances changed and were right for such a situation to develop.

Don't know what the answer is. The elderly have never, ever been a popular population for politicians to pander to and we are not a culture that reveres the elderly as treasures as some cultures do, and the elderly do not band together as a loud, brash, shouting group getting mega media attention in an ongoing manner; that is not in the cards so it does not get traction or notice nor does it get adequate support systems; just occasional empty words in passing by a politician playing to cameras but nothing concrete or adequate for being day to day practical and on a national basis.

It saddens me; as said, don't know what the answer is.

J.

Iris L.

I have a solution that I have thought about for a long time. If I were in charge, I would make available military-style barracks available for FREE to everyone age 18-20 years. In return they would earn their keep in a VISTA program. I don't know if VISTA is still around, but it stood for Volunteers In Service To America, and was a domestic Peace Corps. The young adults would have a two year commitment to provide service anywhere in the country and would also be given the opportunity to learn a trade. Their pay would be saved into a lump sum. At the end of the two years they could continue their education, start a business or get a job with their new skills.

At the same time, the barracks would be available for FREE for anyone who was in need. Every locality in the entire country would have these barracks. ALL social services would be on-site to direct the person to a suitable long term living situation. It would not cost that much because the people living in the barracks would be providing the upkeep if medically available. They could also work for VISTA and earn their keep. This would be like a modern day Civilian Conservation Corps. Be on the lookout in the news over the next few days, for I might announce my candidacy for president do I can get my idea in motion!

Iris