In June, Matt received a knee replacement he had been waiting for, then recovered at Utah’s Place in Hospitality House’s Recuperative Care Program, with a case manager helping him get to follow-up appointments. For Matt, the surgery was about more than his health. At 64, he hopes it will help him return to part-time work and close the gap between his Social Security income and the cost of rent in Nevada County. Matt became homeless after losing access to the property where he had lived in his trailer for years.
A Statewide Trend, Playing Out Locally
Matt’s story reflects a growing trend. Nearly half (48%) of all single adults experiencing homelessness in California are now 50 or older — up from about 11% in the early 1990s.* That trend is not limited to large urban areas. Hospitality House staff are seeing the same trend in Nevada County, where more seniors are arriving at Utah’s Place after losing housing later in life.
Sam: Four Years Outdoors, Then a Turning Point
When outreach staff first met Sam, he had been experiencing homelessness for four years and was living outdoors. Building trust took time. For five months, outreach workers visited him regularly before he felt comfortable accepting support and talking about his situation.
Around that time, Sam was briefly incarcerated. Instead of returning to the woods when he was released, Sam entered treatment for substance use disorder. After completing treatment, he contacted Hospitality House and requested a bed at Utah’s Place. Once there, he began addressing health concerns, followed through on his case plan, and started looking for work. His progress earned him placement in one of Hospitality House’s temporary housing programs, where he continues working toward long-term stability and permanent housing.
Jack: When Social Security Isn’t Enough
At 64, Jack was relying on Social Security benefits that were no longer enough to keep pace with housing costs in Nevada County. Following a divorce, Jack lost his home and spent years working property maintenance jobs while paying for motel rooms. Eventually, his savings ran out, and he came to Hospitality House, staying at Utah’s Place before moving into one of Hospitality House’s transitional housing locations. Since then, he has secured part-time work, saved money and gathered the documentation needed for his housing search.
Bonnie: Safety First, Stability Second
Bonnie’s path began after surviving a violent crime. Trying to hide, she left her home and lived in the woods so she would not be found. Eventually, ongoing health concerns made living outdoors unsustainable, and she came to Utah’s Place for help.
At 65 and living on Social Security, Bonnie spent several months at Utah’s Place while receiving medical care and exploring housing options with her case manager. Despite the limitations of a fixed income, she stayed positive and searched for housing opportunities every day. Two months ago, Bonnie teamed up with a roommate to share expenses and moved into a two-bedroom apartment.
While each journey was different, Matt, Sam, Jack, and Bonnie demonstrate an important truth: homelessness among older adults can happen for many reasons, but with the right support, recovery and housing stability are possible.
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*(UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, “Toward Dignity: Understanding Older Adult Homelessness,” May 2024; Dr. Margot Kushel quoted in LAist, May 27, 2024)