Why are so many seniors in San Diego aging without a home? | NBC 7 San Diego

Summary

NBC San Diego reports on the escalating crisis of senior homelessness in California, where the aging population faces unaffordable housing costs and inadequate social security. With a 29% increase in unsheltered seniors from 2017 to 2021, the report highlights the harsh living conditions and the struggle for basic needs, such as food and medicine. The lack of affordable housing and healthcare access is exacerbating the situation, with mental health issues and substance abuse becoming prevalent coping mechanisms. Experts emphasize the urgency of addressing the housing crisis to prevent a worsening of the situation.

Takeaways

• 🏠 The number of seniors aged 55 and older living on the streets in California has made up a third of the unsheltered population, increasing by 84% between 2017 and 2021.
• 📈 Seniors are the fastest-growing group among the unhoused population in California, with a significant increase in homelessness among this demographic.
• 💼 Many seniors experiencing homelessness for the first time are facing tough choices due to fixed incomes and rising living costs.
• 🚫 Homelessness is not just a result of long-term issues; it's also a consequence of recent life events like illness, job loss, or the death of a partner.
• 🛌 Homeless seniors often have to live in their vehicles or makeshift shelters, facing harsh living conditions and limited access to basic needs.
• 🏥 Health issues are exacerbated by homelessness, with seniors experiencing premature aging and a range of illnesses due to the lack of proper care and living conditions.
• 🤔 The crisis is multifaceted, involving not only housing affordability but also mental health, substance abuse, and the lack of adequate support systems.
• 🏢 There is a critical shortage of affordable senior housing, with many seniors unable to find suitable and affordable places to live.
• 💊 Homelessness can lead to a disconnection from the healthcare system, resulting in untreated health conditions and a worsening of mental health.
• 🔍 The situation is expected to worsen before it improves, with projections indicating a tripling of homelessness among people aged 65 and older by 2030.
• 🏛️ Solutions involve a focus on housing affordability, increasing subsidies, and creating more housing options to prevent seniors from becoming homeless.

Q & A

What is the focus of the NBC San Diego news report?

The focus of the NBC San Diego news report is the growing crisis of homelessness among seniors in California, particularly in San Diego, and the challenges they face due to aging without a home.

Why are seniors becoming the fastest-growing group among the unhoused population in California?

Seniors are becoming the fastest-growing group among the unhoused population in California due to a combination of factors, including the rising cost of housing, fixed incomes that can't keep up with living expenses, and a lack of affordable housing options.

What percentage of the unsheltered population in California is made up of people aged 55 and older?

People aged 55 and older make up about a third of the unsheltered population in California.

How has the number of seniors seeking homelessness services changed between 2017 and 2021 according to California's homeless data integration system?

Between 2017 and 2021, the number of seniors aged 55 and over seeking homelessness services increased by 84%.

What are the tough choices seniors on a fixed income often have to make due to the high cost of living in San Diego?

Seniors on a fixed income often have to make tough choices between food, medicine, and housing due to the high cost of living in San Diego.

What is the situation that Chuck Scott, a 69-year-old, finds himself in, and how does he describe his living conditions?

Chuck Scott, a 69-year-old, has been living out of his truck for the past two years. He describes his living conditions as inconvenient, needing to shower at people's houses and finding places to eat, and uncomfortable sleeping arrangements.

What is the role of Teresa Smith, CEO of Dreams for Change, and what does she say about the senior population in her organization's safe sleeping lots?

Teresa Smith is the CEO of Dreams for Change, a nonprofit running San Diego Safe Sleeping, which offers safe legal camping spaces for people experiencing homelessness. She says that at least 45% of the individuals currently housed in their lots are 55 and older.

What are the health implications of living on the streets for seniors, according to Dr. Margo Cuselle?

According to Dr. Margo Cuselle, living on the streets prematurely ages and sickens people. Seniors in their 50s and 60s who are homeless often have health issues that resemble those of people in their 70s and 80s in the general population, including cognitive decline, mobility problems, and other age-related issues.

What is the impact of homelessness on mental health, and how do some seniors cope with it?

Homelessness can exacerbate mental health issues, with many experiencing depression, anxiety, and substance abuse as coping mechanisms. Some seniors turn to substances like methamphetamines to stay awake and alcohol to help with anxiety and fear.

What does Dr. Margo Cuselle suggest is the fundamental issue leading to homelessness for seniors?

Dr. Margo Cuselle suggests that the fundamental issue leading to homelessness for seniors is the inability to pay for housing, which is a direct result of low benefits, low minimum wage, and a lack of pensions for many who have worked their whole lives.

What is the projected increase in the number of seniors experiencing homelessness between 2017 and 2030?

It is projected that the number of seniors aged 65 and older experiencing homelessness will triple between 2017 and 2030.

Outlines

00:00

🏡 Crisis of Homeless Seniors in California

The script opens with a focus on the escalating issue of homelessness among seniors in California. It is highlighted that this vulnerable group is not only the fastest-growing segment of the unhoused population but also faces unique challenges due to their age. The data indicates a significant increase in the number of homeless seniors between 2017 and 2021, with many experiencing homelessness for the first time. The script introduces the audience to individuals like Chuck Scott, who has been living out of his truck, and discusses the difficult choices they must make between basic necessities due to fixed incomes and the high cost of living.

05:01

📈 Rising Homelessness Among Seniors Due to Housing Costs

This paragraph delves into the reasons behind the surge in homelessness among seniors, emphasizing the role of housing affordability. Seniors, many of whom are on fixed incomes, are struggling to keep up with the rising costs of rent and living expenses. The narrative includes personal stories of individuals like Scott, who could no longer afford his rent after it tripled, and Daniel Alfredo, who has been homeless for 20 years and now suffers from various health issues. The lack of affordable senior housing and the impact of inflation are identified as key factors contributing to this crisis.

10:02

🚑 Health Challenges of Homeless Seniors

The third paragraph highlights the health challenges faced by homeless seniors, who often require extra care that most shelters are not equipped to provide. It discusses the premature aging and sickness that result from living on the streets, with research showing that homeless individuals in their 50s and 60s experience health issues typically seen in those 20 to 30 years older. The paragraph also touches on the mental health impacts of homelessness, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse as coping mechanisms, and the tragic reality that many seniors die on the streets due to untreated health conditions.

15:04

🏘️ The Urgency of Addressing Senior Homelessness

This section underscores the urgency of finding solutions to senior homelessness, with insights from Dr. Margo Cushelle, who points out that the crisis is likely to worsen before it improves. The discussion centers on the need for more affordable housing, subsidies, and the importance of acting now to prevent a larger crisis in the future. The paragraph also addresses the lack of preparedness in the current shelter system to cater to the specific needs of the elderly population and the societal implications of not addressing this issue.

20:06

📊 The Impact of Housing Costs on Senior Homelessness

The focus of this paragraph is on the direct correlation between housing costs and the rise in senior homelessness. It presents data showing that as housing costs increase, so does homelessness, and emphasizes that this issue is not related to substance use or mental health problems, but rather to the inability to afford housing. The paragraph also discusses the lack of federal funding for housing programs and the dire need for more housing units for low-income households, painting a bleak picture of the future if action is not taken.

25:06

🌐 Multi-Layered Solutions to Senior Homelessness

The final paragraph wraps up the discussion by emphasizing that while mental health and substance use are intertwined with homelessness, the core issue is the lack of affordable housing. It calls for a comprehensive approach that includes increasing the availability of housing, improving benefits, raising the minimum wage, and ensuring subsidies for seniors. The paragraph concludes with a call to action, stressing that every solution to homelessness must involve housing and that the most at-risk population, the seniors, must be prioritized.

Keywords

💡Homelessness

Homelessness refers to the condition of people without a regular place to live, often lacking the security of a stable home. In the video, it is the central theme highlighting the plight of the growing senior population without homes in California. The script mentions that seniors are the fastest-growing group among the unhoused population, with many facing the harsh reality of living in their cars or on the streets.

💡Seniors

Seniors are individuals who are typically over the age of 65, often associated with retirement and a time for relaxation and enjoyment of life's fruits. However, the script reveals a crisis where seniors are becoming a significant and rapidly growing part of the homeless population, struggling with inadequate resources and facing the physical and mental challenges of living without a stable home.

💡Unhoused Population

The term 'unhoused population' is used to describe people who do not have a permanent residence, which includes those living on the streets, in temporary shelters, or in vehicles. The script emphasizes that in California, this population is growing, with seniors making up a significant and increasing proportion.

💡Crisis

A crisis is a situation that is thought of as an unstable time of extreme danger or difficulty. The script describes the situation of senior homelessness as a 'crisis within a crisis,' indicating the severity and urgency of the issue, especially in the context of an already existing homelessness problem.

💡Fixed Income

A fixed income refers to a regular, unchanging amount of money that an individual receives, often associated with retirement pensions or social security payments. The video script illustrates the challenge faced by seniors on fixed incomes who cannot afford the rising cost of living and housing, leading to homelessness.

💡Aging Population

The aging population denotes a demographic trend where the proportion of older individuals in society is increasing. The script discusses how California is witnessing an alarming increase in the aging population becoming homeless, with implications for social services and the economy.

💡Affordable Housing

Affordable housing refers to residential units that are priced at a level where they are accessible to individuals and families with a range of incomes. The script highlights a shortage of affordable housing as a key factor contributing to the homelessness of seniors who, despite working for many years, cannot find housing they can afford on their limited incomes.

💡Healthcare

Healthcare is the organized provision of medical services to individuals or communities through various health professionals and allied health fields. The script points out that living on the streets prematurely ages and sickens people, and the lack of access to healthcare exacerbates the health issues faced by homeless seniors.

💡Mental Health

Mental health refers to the state of an individual's psychological and emotional well-being. The video script discusses how the stress of homelessness can lead to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse among the unhoused senior population, indicating the interconnectedness of housing stability and mental health.

💡Substance Abuse

Substance abuse is the excessive and harmful use of substances such as alcohol or drugs. The script mentions substance abuse as a coping mechanism among homeless individuals, including seniors, who may turn to substances like methamphetamines or alcohol to deal with the stress and anxiety of living on the streets.

💡Housing Subsidies

Housing subsidies are financial assistance provided to individuals or families to reduce the cost of housing. The script suggests that increasing housing subsidies is a potential solution to help seniors and others on fixed incomes afford housing, emphasizing the need for policy interventions to address the affordability crisis.

Highlights

California's rising unhoused population includes a growing number of seniors, with people aged 55 and older making up a third of the unsheltered population.

Homelessness among seniors is increasing at a faster rate than other age groups, with an 84% increase from 2017 to 2021 compared to a 43% increase across all ages.

Many seniors experiencing homelessness for the first time face tough choices between food, medicine, and shelter due to fixed incomes and rising living costs.

Seniors living in their vehicles or on the streets face harsh living conditions and struggle to access necessary help and resources.

The lack of affordable housing and the high cost of living are pushing seniors into homelessness, with many unable to find or afford housing after job loss or retirement.

Local activists and nonprofit organizations are working to provide safe sleeping spaces and support for homeless seniors, but the demand far exceeds the available resources.

Health issues are exacerbated for homeless seniors, with many dealing with chronic illnesses and lack of access to healthcare.

Homelessness prematurely ages and sickens people, with those in their 50s experiencing health declines similar to those in their 70s and 80s in the general population.

Mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety are prevalent among homeless seniors, with some turning to substance abuse as a coping mechanism.

The crisis of senior homelessness is expected to worsen before it improves, with the number of homeless seniors projected to triple by 2030.

Efforts to address senior homelessness must focus on increasing affordable housing, lowering housing costs, and increasing housing subsidies.

The lack of connection to the healthcare system for homeless seniors leads to worsening health conditions and untreated chronic illnesses.

Homeless seniors often face violence, exposure to the elements, and sleep deprivation, which significantly impact their mental health.

Substance use among homeless seniors is increasing as a means to cope with the immediate challenges of living on the streets.

The urgency of addressing senior homelessness is highlighted by the fact that a quarter of California's residents are expected to be 60 or older by 2030.

The public must recognize that homelessness is primarily a housing problem, and solutions must focus on creating and preserving affordable housing for seniors.

Transcripts

you're watching NBC San Diego news it's

a crisis within a crisis hidden among

California's Rising unhoused population

is a growing number of seniors aging

without a home in the next half hour

you'll meet members of this vulnerable

group see their living conditions and

witness the challenges they face when

trying to find

help thanks for joining us I'm Monica

Dean when we think about homelessness

seniors aren't typically the people who

come to mind

but data show they are the fastest

growing group among the unhoused

population recently a new study shows

people 55 in older living on the streets

make up a third of the unsheltered

population here in California these are

not just people who have been homeless

for a long time many of them are

experiencing this for the first time as

seniors according to the California's

homeless data integration system between

2017 and 2021 the number of people 55 in

over who sought homelessness Services

increased

84% by comparison people across all ages

accessing homeless Services increased by

43% those seniors are having to face

tough choices food medicine or roof with

many of them on a fixed income and the

ever growing cost of living here in

America's Finest City seniors are faced

with harsh living conditions and some

very tough choices joining me now is NBC

San Diego goes Amber Fus who has been

researching and Reporting on this topic

and Amber you recently spent a few days

meeting members of this vulnerable

population and learning about how they

fell into homelessness in the first

place yeah that's right Monica you know

we often hear that our homeless

population just keeps growing so I

wanted to go out there see why that is

and who these people are the ones who

are ending up on our streets and in

speaking with Advocates and just being

out there you know I came to realize

these people are a lot older than what

we sometimes assume they are yes it's

interesting to see the face of a topic

that we certainly often generalize up

close and they are one of the most

vulnerable populations and Amber they're

facing a harsh new reality yeah that

reality is that working your whole life

does not guarantee you'll have a roof

over your head most of the people I

spoke with simply cannot afford housing

cost in the city the majority had in one

way or another either struggled to keep

up with Rising rent costs or are simply

unable to find places to live due to

their limited Financial Resources forces

as a result as you pointed out at the

top data shows seniors are indeed the

fastest growing group among the Hopeless

population and with the help of one

local activist I got to spend some time

with this growing Community to better

understand their living conditions and

the challenges they face every

day on a recent morning in the rich viw

Webster neighborhood of Eastern San

Diego Chuck Scott stopped by to check on

his truck he was with a healthcare

worker from a local Rehabilitation

Center where he was staying was a

discharge me in the hospital on

Saturday what were you in the hospital

for I fell down right here the stay at

the center is only temporary this is

what Scott calls home the 69-year-old

has been living out of his truck for the

past two years well it's definitely

inconvenient you know because you got to

go and take showers to people's houses

and inconvenience them you know and uh

it's not really need to find places to

eat and uh it's s very comfortable

sleeping Scott hardly stands out from

the many people living in their cars at

this same parking lot as far as a

sleeping Arrangement I'll sleep right

here and try to move my seat as far back

as I can so my legs will stretch up a

lot of times it doesn't work that way

and same with Irene she'll try to do the

same thing Frank who prefer to only go

by his first name and his partner Irene

randone have called their truck home for

6

months believe really hard real hard to

get help I thought I was on a waiting

list for 6 months and I'm not even on a

list and I thought I had done the

footwork and I just thought the the

government was going to help homeless

people you know I mean why we have to

jump through all these hoops to get

housing they want us off the street and

stuff and it's really hard the group all

above the age of 55 find themselves in

the middle of a growing crisis aging

without a home torture California

accounts for about a third of the

nation's homeless population and among

this population seniors are the fastest

growing Group in San Diego people 55 and

older living in the streets make up at

least 29% of the unsheltered population

with 80% of them becoming homeless in

their own Hometown these are people that

you know lived and worked here in San

Diego their entire lives who have just

been priced out of the system and unable

to you know finish you know in Ence in

the homes that they had Teresa Smith is

the CEO of dreams for a nonprofit

running San Diego safe sleeping s the

two designated Lots offer safe legal

camping space for people experiencing

homelessness hundreds of individuals are

currently housed and Smith says at least

45% of them are 55 and older um I think

it's happening more rapidly now yes

because of the cost inflation and the

cost of litty um it's really is pushing

them out of those housing situations and

there's nothing to jump back into and we

have such a shortage of literally senior

housing so even as they start to

approach those senior ages where they

may need a little bit more of that

support as any other senior would be

there's nowhere that it's affordable for

them to even go that's exactly what

happened to Scott who at one point was

living inside his very own one-bedroom

apartment my rent went from $800 to

$1,600 and I couldn't afford to move

back in after they

modeled so um you know they said they

give me first choice to move back in but

I can't I only get $1,000 a month those

security how can I afford to pay $1600 a

month I can't stories like Scots are

common especially among the older

populations living on the streets how

often do you see people you know of

older age like seniors like 60 70 coming

into the shelter you see a lot of them

you know a lot of them that need medical

attention and stuff like that and a lot

of that shouldn't even be here should be

somewhere else like Tom like Tom Liss at

home or something you know and and it's

sad you know I surprised I ain't got

like you know kids I want to take care

of them some people are stuck in their

old ways of like not trying to get help

for themselves like you know being

stubborn like that's how I am you know I

won't call an ambulance come to help me

I I'll lay there and die I don't care

that's just me Daniel Alfredo is

currently living at one of San Diego

safe sleeping sites he managed being on

the streets for the past 20 years until

life started catching up to him now at

51 years old loffredo suffers from a

wide range of illnesses and deal with uh

stic nerve damage on my right leg I got

cellulitis um other other issues you

know I don't want to get into research

shows that living on the streets

prematurely ages and sickens people when

talking about homelessness 50 is the new

75 Margo cushelle director of UC San

Francisco's Benny off homeless and

Housing Initiative has been studying

senior homelessness for the past decade

whether it be measures of cognitive

decline

Mobility problems problems with function

falling all of the things that we

usually think of happening to people in

late life just happened to people 20 or

30 years earlier cushelle says their

situation can also trigger anxiety

depression and substance abuse we heard

from so many people who experienced

homelessness who told us that they use

substances as a coping mechanism using

things like methamphetamines to stay

awake using things like um alcohol to

help them cope with the anxiety the fear

the um the difficulty falling asleep

those things driving down the streets of

downtown San Diego the amount of

unhoused seniors stands out I'm going to

go over to 16th in commercial area 14th

and Commercial I have a lot of seniors

that have

cancer I've just been discharged it's

kind of like the pool where they drop

everyone we took a ride with Heather

newart a homeless advocate who spends

her days helping the unhoused let me get

you some so you can at least give it out

I had a lady that was on this street is

the honest God truth she had was stage

four cancer and she was propped up right

here and she was on a chair with two

crates and that was her bed I lost count

of how

many

new

Diversified individuals or seniors or I

I've lost

count most of the seniors I know that

are on the streets are definitely

handicapped one way or another and are

still waiting for their affordable

housing for their section8 or whatever

or Senior Living housing they don't have

enough spots for them Michael Anderson

also lives at a city safe sleeping site

but he spent years on the streets after

losing his job I had a backpack a

sleeping bag and some cardboard every

night and waking up at 4:30 in the

morning every day to make sure you're

packed up and ready to go before the cop

get there is not fun especially when I

started

Living with around other people and we

would have to pack up our tents and

everything um and being slightly

physical disabled it sucked for me but

it was really really hard on the older

people that around us at just 48 years

old Anderson now also deals with a

variety of health issues this becomes

even more tragic when people have these

aging related health problems cancer

heart disease diabetes things that we

really can't treat effectively when

people are homeless and we have no place

for them to go the health needs of

seniors can require Extra Care and most

shelters are not prepared to serve this

growing population the services now are

not quite caught up to those these quite

yet I think it's happening much faster

than we can really even start thinking

about what are those specific Services

we need to first of all solve our

housing crisis we need to have every

effort on creating more housing lowering

the cost of housing increasing housing

subsidies so that being an older adult

living on a fixed income doesn't cons

doesn't you know mean that you have to

be homeless with a quarter of the

state's residents expected to be 60 or

older by 2030 cushelle says the time to

act is now we think this is going to get

worse before it gets better and The Time

Is Now for us to start addressing it

unless we're ready as a society to have

huge numbers of seniors live living and

dying on our streets Frank feels the

urgency expressing determination in his

attempts to find a place to call his own

my plan is to um go and talk to these

people about the shelter um and get on

the list with them so I can get on the

housing list you know and hopefully

that's moved quickly you know as as long

as I stand on that list and um you know

and that's all I can do is just keep my

head up and and keep going tring along

highlighting the ongoing struggles and

hopes of those living on the streets

open to get housing you know um I car

past and um they're supposed to get

bagged with me you

know I wish I could help I I wish I

could win the lottery build a building

downtown or buy a building downtown kick

all rich rich folks on the streets and

move all the poor people in and all

their way out I'd hand them tent in a s

bag here you go have fun but for now

Michael and others continue to wait for

permanent Housing Solutions to get them

out of the tents or the cars they are

currently living in Amber Fus n

bc7 wow Amber this is a heartbreaking

but really powerful look at the reality

of our homeless crisis I mean we talk

about the problem in generalities so

often but when you hear those individual

stories of the people who are impacted

and this is their daily lives and

routines it really paints a very

personal picture yeah Monica and it was

really heartbreaking to hear all these

stories because the reality is that most

of the people if not all of them

especially the ones that we spoke to

they all told us they wanted shelter

they wanted a place of their own and it

was either because they couldn't afford

it like the first man who we heard from

he just didn't have enough money his

Social Security was only enough for to

barely even cover shelter or they had

trouble navigating the shelter system in

our County but it was just heartbreaking

to know the place they're in it is it

was um powerful to hear from them for

sure and we're going to continue this

discussion still ahead how has the

enforcement of the encampment ban

impacted on house

seniors how do they want us to go into

shelters and there's no rooms in the

shelters how do they want to reinforce

us to have an options to go somewhere

else better if they don't have the the

Necessities or the

spot plus Dr Margo kelle professor of

medicine and division Chief at the

division of vulnerable populations at

Zuckerberg San Francisco General

Hospital goes in depth with us about the

problem and potential

[Music]

Solutions welcome back we're talking

about why seniors have become the

fastest growing population within the

unhoused community and we're here with

NBC San Diego reporter Amber Fus who has

been extensively reporting on this topic

and Amber one of the key issues that

just keeps coming up among the general

homeless population is is the rising

cost of housing here in San Diego now

you spent a lot of time on the streets

talking with seniors I have to imagine

this is something you heard a lot about

yeah it really is Monica and it it's

especially true for this population

because a lot of these people are

depending on their social security and a

lot of times if not all the times

whatever they get is not enough to be

able to afford rent here in San Diego

yeah I'm sure you heard that time and

time again in fact I think we have some

sound from some people that Amber spoke

with take a listen we've got a lot of

seniors that are out on these streets

now because the economy their social

security doesn't pay them enough there's

not affordable housing for

them they become ill and it's they have

their choice between their medication or

food or their homes at one point I was

living in a studio that didn't even have

a kitchen um and it had a shared

bathroom and it was costing me 11,100 a

month joining our discussion now is Dr

Margot celle director of the UCSF Benny

off homelessness and Housing Initiative

Dr celle thanks for being with us

affordability of housing is so critical

for any vulnerable group especially

seniors what are you seeing across

California we are seeing Rising numbers

of seniors falling into homelessness um

we know now that almost half of single

adults are 50 and older and almost half

of those first became homeless after the

age of 50 these are people who are

working poor who've been working their

whole Lives who are barely hanging on

and sometime after the age of 50

Something Happens they get sick their

spouse gets sick their marriage breaks

up their spouse or partner dies

something happens and they have no

cushion and they wind up on our streets

you know you said something in Amber's

report and Amber spent an extensive

amount of time on the streets talking

with people about this and people who

have been impacted by this you said when

talking about homelessness 50 is the new

75 it's

startling yeah you know the experience

of homelessness is so harrowing and um

people who fall into homelessness are

often people who've been working hard

their whole lives not getting great

access to health care and then they

become homeless and everything falls

apart

and so we've done extensive Health

testing on people who experience

homelessness in older age and what we

find is people who are homeless who are

in their 50s and 60s they really look

much more like people in their 70s and

80s in the general population they have

high rates of cognitive impairment of

Mobility impairments difficulty walking

of all sorts of age related problems but

we're just seeing them 20 or 30 years

earlier than we would in the

non-homeless population Amber in your

experience out there reporting on this

did you notice that I really did you

know I the first man in my report that

we spoke to he was in his 70s but from

his appearance he looked much older and

he was also very sick and then Dr

cushelle we also spoke about the part

that these are people who are on the

street so they don't really have access

to Medical Care which I'm sure just

makes it so much worse absolutely I mean

there are many reasons why Things Fall

Apart even worse when people become

homeless you know part of it is the

non-stop violence they're exposed to the

exposure to the elements that lack of

sleep but another big part is that

people really lose connection to the

Health Care System I'm a primary care

physician I love doing what I do and

what I do is to help people live their

best lives to manage chronic illnesses

to engage in healthcare prevention so

that were they to develop a cancer we

catch it early or we catch it before it

starts when people become homeless they

lose their connection to that so they

lose their medicines for their chronic

health problems they lose their ability

to get their vaccines their health care

screening and so this really causes

everything that to really get worse yeah

and you know another point that was made

within the piece that you did Amber was

that someone said it was going to get

worse before it would get better do you

believe that's the case and what

contributes to that I do I really really

am concerned um about this problem we

know that the people born in the second

half of the Baby Bo from so about 1955

to 1965 have been at an increased risk

of homelessness their whole lives it's

obviously a very large population we

know that homelessness is really related

to housing costs so people often blame

things like substance use or mental

health problems on um the rising rates

of homelessness but it really has

nothing to do with that what we see is

when housing costs go up homelessness

goes up as um we continue to have a

really severe housing crisis in

California we know that this very large

group of older adults is going to get

larger we know that across the country

it is renters 50 and older who are more

likely to be what's called rent burden

paying more than a third of their income

on rent um this group is continuing and

we're really not doing enough to stop it

we um don't uh the federal government

does not really fund um programs like

they should only one in four households

who qualify for housing subsidies get

them we know the cost of housing in

California is out of control we know

that we have in California only 24 units

of housing for every 100 extremely

low-income household what you see on the

streets is really just the tip of the

iceburg it's projected that people 65

and older experiencing homelessness

their numbers were going to Triple

between 2017 to 2030 so we have not seen

the worst of this crisis and so the

question is what do we do because as you

mentioned it often feels kind of like

we're putting a Band-Aid on this gaping

wound is it putting more money toward

housing affordability and then we talk

about the the comple complex factors of

substance abuse and mental health

concerns what do you feel are our

greatest needs here you know every

Avenue towards ending this crisis of

homelessness run through housing there's

no question that many people who

experience homelessness struggle with

substance use and mental health problems

and there's no question that we need to

get the treatment that they need to

thrive but we also know that that

treatment without housing just doesn't

work and we know that the fundamental

underlying disconnect that is leading to

so much housing is the inability of

people toay that's leading to so much

homelessness I'm sorry is the

fundamental inability for people to pay

for their housing the state is moving in

the right direction with creating

affordable housing but it is achingly

slow a few years ago we had only 21

units for every 100 extremely low-income

household now we're up to 24 that's a

good start but we need to do everything

in our power to create housing to

preserve housing and to Advocate with

our full force for that housing to be a

affordable some of housing affordability

is just in terms of how much housing we

have the more you have the cheaper it is

that's where the market works but we

need to recognize that as long as we

have benefits set so low as long as we

have the minimum wage be so low as long

as we have so many seniors who don't

have pensions who work their whole lives

and jobs that didn't give them pensions

we need to make sure that we have the

subsidies so that our seniors that

people who are a Californians can live

out their old age in dignity and safety

and Amber I think your report shed light

on something interesting too when

talking about first the housing

affordability and these seniors who were

left on the streets it seemed like the

incidence of mental health concerns

depression anxiety escalated and in some

cases and I don't know how many maybe Dr

cushelle could shed some light on that

we're turning to substances to try to

suppress some of the anxieties of living

on the streets yeah as you can imagine

being on the streets it's tough having

to live out of your car you know is

tough and having to figure out where to

go to the bathroom where to get food so

a lot of these people were dealing with

you know just struggling with their

mental health yeah and trying to live

day today Dr celle I I imagine that's

something that you've looked into as

well absolutely we know about 2third of

people experiencing homelessness have um

relatively significant mental health

symptoms but that's mostly driven by

depression and anxiety about half each

have significant depression and

significant anxiety and when you um talk

to folks they talk about it as both

cause and effect of their homelessness

sometimes people were struggling with

mental health concerns that made it hard

to keep up the two jobs that they needed

to you know keep let's say to keep a

roof over their head but what people say

is they become homeless and everything

gets worse they're I can't um

overestimate the amount of violence that

people are exposed to um that people

have you know incredibly High rates of

being physically and sexually assaulted

people are sleep deprived they're

anxious they're terrified they're

ashamed this really r reaps havocs with

people's mental health and as you said

you know the substance use can both um

spur people into homelessness it can tip

people into homelessness but what we're

seeing again and again is a substance

who's getting worse people talk about

turning to alcohol to um to help ease

their symptoms of anxiety obviously not

a good long-term solution for anxiety

but in the moment it feels like it helps

we're also seeing increasing numbers of

people turning to methamphetamines

because it keeps them awake and alert it

it qus their hunger and it seems to sort

of solve in a in obviously a not

effective way but it seems to address

some of their most urgent needs and so

we itely see that people turning to or

increasing substance use when they

become homeless this is such a

multi-layered issue but if you were to

boil it down and and have one takeaway

that you'd want the public to know about

it what would that

be I think the most important thing is

that homelessness is a housing problem

we know that when we compare regions

with high and low rates of homelessness

it is a straight line relationship

between the availability of housing for

the lowest cost households and therefore

every solution to this problem runs

through housing it's not that that it

isn't also related to mental health and

substance use problems of course it is

but we can't solve this problem without

really addressing our critical shortage

of Housing and people have to recognize

that it is our seniors who are at most

risk we certainly appreciate Dr kelle's

valuable insight into this most

important issue and Amber we appreciate

your research and Reporting on this

evolving problem we of course will

continue to follow this topic here on

NBC San Diego news for now I'm Monica

Dean thanks for

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watching