seniors
Senior Homelessness on the Rise
Senior homelessness has reached alarming levels nationwide. According to HUD’s latest 2024 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), about 146,000 people aged 55 or older experienced homelessness on a single night in 2024 – roughly one in five of all homeless individuals. This reflects a 6% increase in older adult homelessness from the previous year, underscoring that older adults are the fastest-growing group among people experiencing homelessness.
In fact, long-term analyses show the share of homeless adults aged 50+ has soared from 11% in the 1990s to nearly 50% in the 2020s. If current trends continue, experts project the number of homeless seniors could triple by 2030, a phenomenon often referred to as the emerging “gray wave” of homelessness.
Behind these numbers are real people—many becoming homeless for the first time in later life. Unlike younger populations, seniors often enter homelessness due to sudden, traumatic life events. The loss of a spouse, a serious health crisis, an eviction, or a late-life job loss can rapidly lead to housing instability. With millions of baby boomers reaching retirement age, the overall senior population is growing (one in five Americans will be 65+ by 2030, and so is the population of seniors with nowhere to live. Rising rents and inadequate retirement incomes have left many older adults just one setback away from homelessness.
Aging in Place and Long-Term Stability
At HSI, we have witnessed these demographic shifts firsthand. Today, 38% of HSI’s tenants are seniors (age 65 or older), and in five years that share is expected to double. This trend is partly driven by the aging Baby Boomer generation, which is expanding faster than younger age groups, and partly by our tenants “aging in place” – remaining stably housed in our programs into their later years. HSI provides permanent supportive housing, meaning residents do not face time limits on their stay. Many make HSI housing their forever home, enjoying safety and community as they age. In fact, the average tenancy for HSI residents now exceeds 9 years, a testament to the long-term stability and comfort our supportive housing offers.
“Aging in place” is more than a buzzword at HSI – it’s a guiding principle. We are proud to offer permanent housing solutions that allow older adults to grow old in their own apartments, surrounded by support. For many seniors who have experienced homelessness, the ability to settle into a stable, caring environment for the long haul is life-changing. HSI sees it as our mission to make sure that a senior’s first day of housing is also the first day of a new chapter – one where they can remain for as long as they need, with dignity and security.
Today 38% of our tenants are 65 or older.
100% of our seniors have access to
the home-based care they need.