Frequently Asked Questions
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ELAHP recently participated in a three-country study of the causes and contributing factors
for elder homelessness. The Boston results of the study showed that race, income level and
health issues are all factors in predicting homelessness for older adults. Other key factors
are social isolation and willingness to seek help. According to the study, a "typical" homeless
older adult is an African-American man who in spite of numerous, chronic health concerns is able
to work steadily at a low-wage job. When his health worsens to the point that he is unable to
work, he loses his income. He becomes homeless because he doesn't have an informal support
network and is reluctant to ask for help.
In other cases, individuals might become homeless at a younger age, but are unable to overcome
the barriers that led to their housing crises. Often, these people are struggling with chronic,
debilitating illnesses such as depression, addiction to drugs and/or alcohol, or Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder. In fact, these illnesses are often linked, and a chronically homeless person is
likely to be suffering from more than one of these disorders. They age on the streets or in the
shelters, and then must also contend with age-related disabilities such as decreased mobility or
sight or hearing impairments.
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