2021 DPSS Annual Report Online_FINAL

Annual Report 2020/2021

Adult Services

Virginia in front of her home, holding a photo of herself from her days as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Last year, when Virginia was on the brink of losing her beloved home, she received help from DPSS. The financial assistance allowed her to keep her home and garden.

A Year to Remember: HOUSING VULNERABLE SENIORS DURING THE PANDEMIC

■ The Housing Workforce Solutions (HWS) department ■ Homeless/Housing Opportunities, Partnership & Education Program (HHOPE) ■ Riverside County Self-Sufficiency ■ California Department of Motor Vehicles ■ Social Security Administration We were able to expand our reach while continuing our ongoing efforts. With an influx of emergency funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (also known as the CARES Act) and funding from California’s Home Safe Program, Riverside County received nearly $2 million in new funding, which allowed us to meet more people’s needs than ever before.

Currently, there are hundreds of homeless seniors in Riverside County. And that number is likely to grow next year...and the year after that.

Over the course of the past year, two factors intensified the increasing homeless senior population: 1. The combination of a rapidly growing aging population and the skyrocketing cost of housing.

2. Instability and isolation from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Riverside County’s Adult Protective Services team rose to the occasion. To create innovative and effective solutions, we collaborated with several Riverside County agencies:

■ Office on Aging (OoA) ■ Continuum of Care (CoC)

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