HMIS6

One in 10 aging residents of Riverside County is impoverished. For each person age 50 and older experiencing homelessness, another is struggling to keep a roof over their head. The tolls of poverty, aging and homelessness are difficult to calculate in one life let alone thousands: each with a unique and complex story to tell. Risks of death and chronic disease accelerate by two decades in people living on the streets. A chronically homeless woman in her 50s, for example, is likely to suffer the same maladies as a woman in her 70s. More than half of the aging homeless population in Riverside County reports having at least two or more chronic medical conditions. Adults 50 and older who are homeless have mortality rates four times higher than the general population. Undertreated conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and other comorbidities in the homeless are straining local health systems and costing the nation in excess of $5 billion annually. Their needs are growing and DPSS and our partners are uniquely positioned to serve the needs of the aging. One in four enrollments into Riverside County’s Homeless Management Informa- tion System (HMIS) between 2015 and 2019, was by a person age 55 or older. Ten percent of HMIS enrollments by the aging came through street outreach. When calculating the high costs of housing and healthcare, the poverty rate for River- side County seniors is at least five percent higher than the national average, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A network of multidisciplinary service teams is addressing the trajectory of the County’s aging homeless through a multipronged approach that tailors services to the unique needs of each person. Recent successful initiatives such as Project Roomkey and Gov. Newsom’s 100-Day Challenge brought permanent housing and services to 108 homeless and at-risk seniors. However, the greatest challeng- es are ahead. Statewide, only 21 housing units are available for every 100 very-low income individuals. A dwindling supply of affordable housing and the arrival of the global coronavirus pandemic in March, have heightened housing insecurity and increased economic vulnerability for thousands of seniors in one of the nation’s most populous counties By keeping seniors at the forefront and participating in a network of comprehensive services, Riverside County-DPSS and our partners are ensuring long-term stability and safety for the aging and vulnerable. The five-years of data collected specifically about unique homeless individuals who accessed programs through Riverside County’s Homeless Information Manage- ment System (HMIS) cast a spotlight on the housing-related needs of a fast-grow- ing population. AGING INTO POVERTY Riverside County Rises to Meet the Need 3 RIVERSIDE COUNTY