The Elderly
The elderly are a class of the homeless population that is often overlooked. Today's stereotype depicts the elderly as independent and relatively carefree. We picture older people as independent and self sufficient, this is a very different view from the frail and dependent image we had just few years ago. The reality of the situation lies somewhere in the middle.
Most of the elderly living in America today are dependent on pension and social security checks. Neither of these are able to provide a very comfortable lifestyle, nevermind a luxurious one. Although most of the elderly have some source of income and a roof over their head, nearly 4 million do not.
The Social Security Act has done a lot for the older people of America, it cut the poverty rate of the elderly nearly 35% (1959) to 12.4% (1984). If there was no social security half of the elderly population would be legally poor, meaning their income would be $5,000 per year, per person, or lower.
In the year 1900 there were only 123,000 people over the age of 85. Now that number is about 2.3 million. A large amount of these people are poor. The rate of poverty among people over the age of 85 is nearly double the poverty rate of those over the age of 65.
For elderly people actually facing the streets, shelters are not a suitable solution. This is because shelters are designed to provide short term accommodations, in hopes that job training programs and other forms of assistance will help people move up and out of their homeless situation. However, many elderly homeless people are unable to work because of physical fragility and, or disabilities. Many other people are unable to work and are living off of a fixed income. The remaining people who are able and willing to work are often seen by their employers as unemployable and are stuck in dead - end, low - wage positions.
Most of the old, homeless people in America are overlooked by the American public. The elderly homeless population is often held responsible for their homelessness. Our unforgiving society finds ways to blame the victims for their own affliction. Rather than being sympathetic and helpful they are harsh and cruel.
Sometimes elderly people are very stubborn and refuse to accept any aid from anyone. They feel that to accept someone's good natured help, they are accepting "charity" and relinquishing their dignity. They are letting go of the American ideal of independence and self reliance.
The elderly homeless population has received more attention from the government and public eye in the past few years. The latest goal is that the elderly homeless situation is looked upon with equal importance and seriousness as any other division of the homeless population.
