Opinion: Getting Real About San Diego’s Cost of Living Will Help End Senior Homelessness

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. 

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.

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. 

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.