Homelessness among elderly needs action

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jan 12, 2013

~~<p>As baby boomers reach retirement age, a growing number in Hawaii are being threatened with life on the streets because of rising costs in housing and health care. It's imperative that a comprehensive, robust review of this emerging problem get under way, with a stronger sense of urgency from government to address truly affordable rentals for senior citizens burdened by fixed incomes yet facing more health woes.</p>
<p>About 7.1 percent of the homeless on Oahu are 62 or older, but their number is likely to increase as residents reaching that age grows. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development projects that elderly without roofs will increase by one-third from those in 2010 by 2020. For the most part, they are elderly who had not experienced homelessness prior to turning 65 years of age.</p>
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As baby boomers reach retirement age, a growing number in Hawaii are being threatened with life on the streets because of rising costs in housing and health care. It's imperative that a comprehensive, robust review of this emerging problem get under way, with a stronger sense of urgency from government to address truly affordable rentals for senior citizens burdened by fixed incomes yet facing more health woes.

About 7.1 percent of the homeless on Oahu are 62 or older, but their number is likely to increase as residents reaching that age grows. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development projects that elderly without roofs will increase by one-third from those in 2010 by 2020. For the most part, they are elderly who had not experienced homelessness prior to turning 65 years of age. Login for more...