An unsheltered lady sleeps on concrete wall overlooking Ocean Seaside Pier and New 12 months’s Day guests taking selfies at sundown. Photograph by Chris Stone
It’s not information that San Diego is an costly place to reside. This yr’s report rise in native housing prices coupled with inflation strain is making residents really feel the financial warmth.
Hundreds of older adults who have been already struggling financially are experiencing extreme penalties, together with the growing risk of homelessness. At Serving Seniors we see this day by day as low-income and homeless adults over age 60 participate in our meal packages and different companies.
Our shoppers rely each on nonprofit organizations and public help packages like Medi-Cal to outlive. However even when they’re eligible to obtain Social Safety, it’s not sufficient.
At the moment, Federal Poverty Stage tips created within the Nineteen Sixties decide whether or not seniors are eligible for presidency help packages. Right now in 2022, they’ve little relevance, particularly in high-cost areas like San Diego. Because of this, seniors dwelling in poverty are shocked to study they “make an excessive amount of” revenue to qualify for assist.
The present federal poverty threshold for a single particular person family is $12,996; for 2 individuals it’s $16,379. That is the determine used as a baseline qualification. Does anybody imagine you possibly can reside in San Diego County on this sum of money? Even when older adults can start receiving Social Safety at age 62, they nonetheless endure monetary insecurity.
Specialists in gerontology and public coverage have developed a extra correct measure of poverty. The Elder Financial Safety Normal Index, or “Elder Index,” makes use of knowledge from the U.S. Census and Division of Housing and City Growth to supply real-world guideline which additionally think about regional prices of dwelling.
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In 2020, College of Massachusetts Boston professor Jan Mutchler got down to reply this query: will you find the money for to afford your native price of dwelling? Her examine, Getting older within the 100 Largest Metropolitan Areas: How Do Older Adults Fare? discovered at the very least one third of single residents age 65 and older and one in ten older {couples} within the 100 largest cities together with San Diego are danger of being unable to afford fundamental wants (housing, meals, transportation, and well being care).
In response to the Elder Index, the common minimal revenue wanted is $27,096 for a person, twice the federal poverty threshold. In excessive revenue areas like San Diego, issues are a lot worse. The Elder Index calculates $34,248 for a senior in good well being because the minimal annual revenue to keep away from poverty. The “hole” between federal tips and the revenue a San Diego senior wants to satisfy his or her fundamental wants is $21,252.
In each U.S. county measured, regardless of the state or metro space, the Elder Index is greater than the common Social Safety fee, that means Social Safety alone is inadequate to satisfy fundamental dwelling bills. See the Elder Index numbers for all 384 metro areas on the Elder Index website.
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Half of all People and a majority of San Diego’s older adults dwelling alone don’t have sufficient revenue to assist day by day dwelling. This needs to be unacceptable to everybody.
Some communities have made progress in offering extra sponsored housing and extra beneficiant diet packages to offset meals prices, just like the packages provided by way of Serving Seniors, supported by way of authorities funding, non-public grants, and the generosity of our many donors. Different packages assist individuals pay their fundamental utilities or property taxes. However individuals have to find out about them and be capable of entry them.
At a fundamental stage, persevering with to assist or elevate assist for Medicare to assist older individuals pay their well being bills is a should.
Many people concerned within the struggle in opposition to senior homelessness are calling for the Elder Index to exchange the federal guideline. The UCLA Middle for Coverage Analysis is working to refine this instrument to be used in California.
San Diegans lately named homelessness and reasonably priced housing as their high problems with concern. Our companies are targeted on addressing the numerous variations working with older adults prone to homelessness as in comparison with the overall grownup homeless inhabitants. Most individuals 55 and up who discover themselves who grow to be homeless lack an financial security web.
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It is a drawback we are able to resolve. Of the 400 low-income and homeless older adults surveyed for our 2021 Wants Evaluation examine, 56% of these interviewed report a further $300 or much less of month-to-month revenue would enhance their lease safety.
Financial forces similar to inadequate retirement revenue, unaffordable housing choices, the lack to proceed working, or a single surprising disaster similar to job loss or severe sickness drive homelessness amongst older adults. We should modify our present method to right away handle the wants of older people with a current lack of housing.
Adopting the Elder Index as a important benchmark determine instead of outdated, unrealistic federal tips can be a significant step ahead.
Paul Downey is CEO of Serving Seniors, a San Diego-based nonprofit that helps seniors in poverty reside wholesome and fulfilling resides.
EL SEGUNDO — When they began to survey the roster and all that went haywire before their arrival, general manager Joe Hortiz, coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Jesse Minter decided the Chargers’ defense could be and should be upgraded for the 2024 season.
Small changes were made, minor tweaks that got little notice around the known football universe. Mostly, though, there was a buy-in from the players that Hortiz, Harbaugh and Minter noticed from the first days of practice in the spring. Matters could be improved by leaps and bounds without major changes.
Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, two veteran outside linebackers and cornerstones of the defense, agreed in the offseason to take pay cuts so Hortiz could make the moves he made and still remain under the salary cap. According to Minter, it “set an unbelievable tone” for what was to follow.
Poona Ford strengthened the defensive line. Denzel Perryman did the same with the inside linebackers. Bud Dupree added depth to the already fearsome outside linebacker corps. Defensive back Elijah Molden was the latest addition, acquired after training camp, and he was an impact player.
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In no time at all, it became evident that the Chargers had created something special. By midseason, they were firmly entrenched as the NFL’s stingiest defense, with a chance to give up the fewest points in the league in a season for the first time since they were the AFL champions way back in 1963.
Going into their regular-season finale against the Raiders (4-12) on Sunday in Las Vegas, the Chargers (10-6) have given up 17.6 points per game, the fewest in the NFL. They’re coming off a playoff-clinching victory over the New England Patriots in which they gave up only a touchdown and an extra point.
“What we found, and I don’t know if (Harbaugh) has said this, but there was an unbelievable thing going on here,” Minter said. “For whatever reason. It wasn’t like you had to change a bunch of guys’ attitudes and work ethic. It was unbelievable from the second we walked in the door, and I think it’s gone both ways.”
Now, finishing the regular season with the NFL’s best defense is a pride thing.
“It’s cool, man,” Mack said. “It’s a cool goal, something we probably didn’t think we could accomplish early in the season. To have that opportunity, that capability, is dope. Carrying that into the postseason (next week) and getting better is the ultimate process for us right now.”
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Mack and safety Derwin James Jr. were named Thursday to the Pro Bowl for the ninth time and fourth time, respectively, in their careers. They were honored, but it wasn’t as if they were the only standouts in a defense that has set a high standard for success in the new regime’s first season.
“It would mean a lot because that was our ultimate goal,” James said of the possibility of having the league’s top defense after Sunday’s game against the Raiders. “Every day we break it down to be the best. That’s our mindset. That’s our goal. We take the field to do that every day.
“It’s coming out strong, starting fast. You’ve got to start the game fast, and I feel like we’ve been starting out fast on defense all year long. We’ve also finished games good, too. So, we just want to continue to build on that. Every guy is working toward that. We’re definitely getting better as a team.”
INJURY REPORT
The Chargers ruled out running back Gus Edwards (ankle) and wide receiver Joshua Palmer (foot) for Sunday’s game, but their status for the wild-card playoff game next weekend was uncertain. Linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin) was doubtful to play Sunday and safety Alohi Gilman (hamstring) was questionable. Gilman has been sidelined since he was hurt in a game Nov. 25 against the Baltimore Ravens.
A man was startled awake by a fiery car crash in his front yard in La Mesa. Instead of calling police, he jumped into action, pulling a passenger from the burning car.
The accident happened just before 1 a.m. on Baltimore Drive near Laport Street.
Kerry Campbell wasted no time getting his front yard, ordinarily the envy of the neighborhood, back in order. Fourteen hours earlier, it looked more like a bonfire.
“My wife and I hear a loud boom,” Campbell said. “I used one fire extinguisher and realized it wasn’t going to do anything. It felt like it lasted five minutes. Looking at the video, it lasted less than two minutes. I went around to the driver’s side door and pried it open and just pulled her out.”
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She is the 25-year-old passenger of an incinerated Toyota Scion that crashed in front of Campbell’s home. Police say her injuries were not life threatening. She may have Campbell to thank for that.
“She was awake but not verbal,” Campbell said. “Clearly injured, but I didn’t see any blood.”
Neighbor Elizabeth Munn was terrified the fire might spread to her home next door.
“I was panicking because I have pets,” Munn said. “I was running in, trying to find them all. The car was almost completely engulfed in flames at that point. It was really scary. In the movies, you see cars on fire that go kaboom.”
Campbell not only pulled the young passenger from her burning car. His doorbell camera video shows that Campbell did it in boxers and bare feet — to his wife’s dismay.
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“Kerry, get out of there,” his wife is heard saying in the recording.
How the car got there is a tale with many twists. Witnesses say the Scion was northbound on Baltimore Drive. Some 100 yards from Campbell’s house, the driver lost control, crossed the median and then collided with an evergreen tree in the middle of the road.
The force of the collision was so great, car glass was sprayed on the roof of the home across the street. The Scion barreled the wrong way toward Campbell’s front yard, finally coming to rest after crashing into his palm tree.
“A little emotional afterwards because my wife and kids were inside, and it could have ended up a lot worse,” Campbell said. “I feel good. I feel fortunate.”
Campbell says his actions were reflexive. He wasn’t thinking about it. He just did what needed to be done. He’s had no formal fire training. He was trained as a Marine 26 years ago, and he credits that training for being able to respond when needed.
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La Mesa police say the 20-year-old driver remained at the scene and was arrested for driving under the influence.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Carlos Stewart had 20 points in Santa Clara’s 81-80 win over San Diego on Thursday night.
Stewart shot 5 for 10 (4 for 7 from 3-point range) and 6 of 8 from the free-throw line for the Broncos (10-6, 2-1 West Coast Conference). Camaron Tongue scored 11 points, going 3 of 5 and 5 of 6 from the free-throw line. Adama Bal had 11 points and shot 3 of 8 from the field, including 1 for 6 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 5 from the line.
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Kjay Bradley Jr. led the Toreros (4-11, 1-1) in scoring, finishing with 23 points, six assists and three steals. Santiago Trouet added 21 points, 11 rebounds and two steals for San Diego. Steven Jamerson II finished with 14 points and six rebounds.
Tongue scored six points in the first half for Santa Clara, who led 35-27 at the break. Stewart scored 16 points in the second half to help lead Santa Clara to a one-point victory.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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