Residents learn about homelessness among seniors
LW CARES FUND
On June 28, the Leisure World Cares Fund hosted speaker Melinda Forstey, who is the president and CEO of San Diego’s Serving Seniors. She gave an overview of Serving Seniors’ Older Adult Homelessness Needs Assessment which assessed older adult homelessness and housing insecurity. Homelessness among the elderly has grown significantly since 2017 and now they comprise 20% of the unhoused. A full 37% of older adults are economically insecure.
Forstey reported that the homeless rose due to a lack of an economic safety net and often a single catastrophic event pushed them into homelessness. She found that 56% need $300 or less of monthly income to increase their housing security. In response they implemented a flat monthly rental assistance program.
The annual cost of around $10,000 is far less than the $40,000 it costs the County for each homeless person. Virtually all of those receiving the subsidy maintained their housing and avoided becoming homeless.
A similar model is envisioned for the Leisure World Cares Fund where residents on fixed incomes are facing the loss of their homes due to an inability to keep up with their HOA fees.
For more about the LW Cares Fund, or to donate or apply, visit www. lwcaresfund. org, email lwcares@lwcaresfund.org or call 562-262-8280.
