Key Concepts

The information and resources below can help establish a baseline understanding of:

Homelessness terms and concepts.
Reasons that homelessness is different for older adults.
Homeless response network and Aging Network structures.
Key federal funding sources for homelessness.

What Is Homelessness?
Homelessness refers to the condition when individuals or families lack a stable, permanent and safe place to live. This includes individuals living in places not meant for human habitation (such as streets, cars, parks or abandoned buildings). Some other forms of homelessness include couch surfing; “doubling up;” and living in an institution, tent, motel or hotel, emergency shelter or transitional housing. Some individuals exiting institutions such as prisons, nursing facilities, etc., may also be considered as experiencing homelessness if they lack a stable, permanent and safe home.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) counts of people experiencing homelessness will include characterizations of types of homelessness, which can have bearing on the type of assistance available. Two of these common characterizations of homelessness include:

Unsheltered: Staying in a place not meant for human habitation, such as a car, abandoned buildings, in encampments or otherwise outdoors.
Sheltered: Staying in temporary housing, such as emergency shelters, transitional housing or motels.

When people experience homelessness for an extended period, it is known as chronic homelessness. According to HUD, people with a disability who have been continuously homeless for at least a year (all at once or cumulatively over several episodes of homelessness) are experiencing chronic homelessness.

There are four categories of homelessness according to federal definitions. These categories are often used by HUD-funded homelessness programs and services.

Literally homeless: Individuals or families who lack a regular, fixed nighttime place of shelter.
Imminent risk of homelessness: Individuals or families who will lose their housing within 14 days and do not have the resources to secure another place to live.
Homeless under other federal statutes: Individuals or families who meet other definitions of homelessness set forth by laws governing the work of other agencies.
Those who are "fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence."

What Is Different About Older Adult Homelessness?
The experience of homelessness looks different for older adults than other demographics. University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative researchers have documented that older adults experiencing homelessness are much more likely than their peers to have poor physical and mental health, develop age-related health conditions, experience violent victimization and report feelings of humiliation. Other unique aspects of aging homelessness include fixed incomes; disruptions in family caregiving; loss of spouse or partner; and an increase in functional difficulties, such as decreased mobility and challenges dressing, bathing and toileting. More detail about these difficulties can be found in this UCSF study.

Without effective interventions tailored to an aging population, homelessness among older adults is on track to triple between 2017–2030. Becoming unhoused disrupts aging in place and is associated with the loss of a critical economic asset (the home), increased functional limitations and health decline. Additionally, the experience of homelessness can disrupt employment and receipt of Social Security, public benefits and home and community-based services.

Crosswalk of the Structures of the Homeless Response System and Aging Network

System Aspect	Homeless Response System	Aging Network
Federal agency that oversees the system	HUD	U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Administration for Children, Families and Communities
Administrative body that coordinates services across a city, county, or multi-county region	CoCs CoC Directory The CoC lead is typically a nonprofit or governmental organization.	AAAs Find Your Local AAA Title VI Native American Aging Program Title VI Directory AAAs and Title VI Native American Aging Programs are typically nonprofit or governmental organizations.
Intake System	Coordinated Entry System	AAA Information and Referral systems with Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) serving as an additional support in applicable regions.
Key Federal Law(s)	McKinney-Vento Act of 1987 HEARTH Act of 2009	Older Americans Act (OAA)
Funding Flow	CoC lead agencies apply for HUD grants for the entire local system and distribute the grant money based on locally determined criteria. Systems and individual organizations often supplement this money with private donations. Not all homeless response organizations apply for HUD funding.	State Units on Aging (SUAs) receive grants pursuant to the OAA, and SUAs then disburse the funds to AAAs. Other HHS funds support Title VI Native American Aging Programs serving Native American, Native Alaskan and Native Hawaiian populations.

Source: Unpublished material from the National Alliance to End Homelessness

Overview of Key Federal Funding Sources for Homelessness

Legislation that Established Funding	Funding Program Name	Overview of Program
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 as amended by the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing, HEARTH, Act of 2009	CoC Program	Provides funding for local and regional organizations to plan, implement and operate projects to help people at risk of or experiencing homelessness maintain or transition to permanent housing
	Emergency Solutions Grants	Provides funding for emergency shelter, rapid re-housing, prevention and support services
Housing and Community Development Act of 1974	Housing Choice Vouchers (sometimes referred to as "Section 8")	Provides vouchers to help individuals and families with low incomes to afford rental housing on the private market
Tax Reform Act of 1986	Low-Income Housing Tax Credits	Provides incentives to housing developers to build and/or rehabilitate affordable rental housing Many of these developments set aside a certain number of units for households with low incomes, including people who previously experienced homelessness.

Source: Unpublished material from the National Alliance to End Homelessness

Keep Learning:

About USAging

Area Agencies on Aging are local champions of aging well. Learn how they make thriving in later years possible in our new Live Long Stay Strong campaign.