Rising housing costs are quietly reshaping the American landscape, and for a growing number of older adults, the consequences are dire. Last year, one in five people experiencing homelessness in the United States was over the age of 55, according to NPR. That’s a startling figure—one that’s hard to reconcile with the country’s image as a land of opportunity and security, especially for those who’ve spent decades contributing to their communities.
Roberta Rabinovitz’s story is one that echoes the struggles of many. At 82, she found herself without a place to call home after enduring a series of devastating losses. Both of her daughters died of cancer, and she cared for each of them until the end. Then, she moved to Florida to help her ailing brother, only to lose him as well. When she returned north, she landed on her grandson’s couch in Burrillville, Rhode Island. Recovering from lung cancer, she slept in the living room and had to climb a steep staircase just to take a shower. Her only income was Social Security, and rents for a safer, private place were far beyond her reach.
Rabinovitz had once enjoyed a middle-class life in the Boston suburbs. But after her husband died, her savings dwindled. Like many women widowed in their 50s, she found herself facing financial hardship long before she was eligible for Social Security. Her health, too, declined alongside her financial security. She told NPR, “I found myself very depressed. And what’s going to happen to me? Where am I going to go? I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
Her story is not unique. Dennis Culhane, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania who specializes in homelessness, didn’t mince words: “It’s a national scandal, really, that the richest country in the world would have destitute elderly and disabled people.” For many older Americans, just one unexpected event—a spouse’s death, a job loss, a rent hike, an injury, or a serious illness—can tip the scales from precarious stability into homelessness.
Sandy Markwood, CEO of the national association USAging, underscored the gravity of the issue. “No one imagines anybody living on the street at 75 and 80. But they are.” The reality is that as housing costs rise, more and more seniors are finding themselves without stable shelter. According to NPR, rising rents and limited incomes are pushing older Americans onto the streets or into unsafe living situations at an alarming rate.
Yet, amid this bleak landscape, some organizations are taking creative steps to address the crisis. One such initiative is PACE—the Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. Operating in 33 states, PACE enrolls people aged 55 and older who need a level of care that would typically require a nursing home. The program’s approach is innovative: it pools clients’ Medicare and Medicaid funds and uses them to pay not just for medical care, but also for meals, housing, and other essentials. The goal is to help seniors remain in their communities and avoid institutionalization.
Robert Greenwood of the National PACE Association explained how the program is adapting to the challenges of rising housing costs. “PACE programs are partnering with senior-housing providers, leasing apartments from housing providers and then developing housing themselves when it’s appropriate.” This flexibility allows PACE to find or create housing solutions for their clients, even as affordable options become scarcer.
For Rabinovitz, enrolling in PACE was a turning point. The organization helped her leave her grandson’s couch behind and move into her own apartment in an assisted-living facility—one of four units reserved for PACE clients in Rhode Island, according to The Public’s Radio. A few months after moving in, Rabinovitz welcomed a reporter into her new home, which she lovingly called “my penthouse.” She’d decorated the studio apartment in purple, her favorite color, and relished the small but significant freedoms it offered. Medicaid rules allowed her to keep $120 a month from her Social Security check for personal items—a modest sum, but enough for some independence. “I wake up every morning and think, oh, I have to go to breakfast. Isn’t that wonderful?” she said, her gratitude palpable.
The financial pressures facing older women, in particular, are a recurring theme. Many become widowed in their 50s, often after children have left home, and must navigate years—sometimes decades—before Social Security benefits kick in. In that gap, savings can vanish quickly, especially if health problems arise. Without a robust safety net, it’s all too easy for a single life event to spiral into homelessness.
The PACE model, while not a panacea, offers a glimpse of what’s possible when health care and housing are woven together. By leveraging existing public funds and focusing on holistic care, the program helps seniors like Rabinovitz regain a sense of dignity and security. But as Robert Greenwood noted, the rising cost of housing means PACE and similar programs must constantly innovate to keep up with demand.
Nationally, the scale of the problem is daunting. As reported by NPR and The Public’s Radio, the number of homeless seniors is rising, and with the country’s population aging, the trend shows no sign of slowing. The causes are complex—ranging from the lack of affordable housing to inadequate retirement savings, health setbacks, and the unraveling of family support systems.
Advocates argue that addressing senior homelessness requires more than just emergency shelters or temporary fixes. It means rethinking how society supports older adults, especially those with limited means. The example set by PACE—blending medical care, housing, and social support—suggests a way forward, but scaling such efforts will require political will and sustained investment.
For now, the stories of people like Roberta Rabinovitz serve as both a warning and a call to action. Her journey from middle-class comfort to the brink of homelessness, and then to a modest but safe apartment, reflects the precariousness facing many older Americans. It also highlights the impact that targeted, compassionate programs can have—restoring not just shelter, but hope.
As the nation grapples with rising housing costs and an aging population, the challenge of senior homelessness will only grow more urgent. Solutions exist, but meeting the need will demand creativity, resources, and a renewed commitment to ensuring that every older American can age with dignity and security.
