Phenomenon of Elderly Phenomenon of Elderly Homelessness:Homelessness:A Group StudyA Group Study

Presented By (in presentation order):Presented By (in presentation order):

Kris Murthi Kris Murthi

Josephine BarreraJosephine Barrera

Younghoon KwonYounghoon Kwon

Maria GutierrezMaria Gutierrez

Alexander LeAlexander Le

Where Our Study BeganWhere Our Study Began

A Story of HopeA Story of Hope

Once I was homeless. My home was a cardboard box covered by Once I was homeless. My home was a cardboard box covered by the shelter of a bridge. My drug of choice was Meth, it was with the shelter of a bridge. My drug of choice was Meth, it was with me for 17 years. This addiction and life style caused me to be in me for 17 years. This addiction and life style caused me to be in and out of jail. The Salvation Army was my place for change and and out of jail. The Salvation Army was my place for change and new found hope. Now I get to give back to my community by new found hope. Now I get to give back to my community by being the Executive Director of this facility.being the Executive Director of this facility.

~~ Dan Guhc, Executive Director of Salvation Dan Guhc, Executive Director of Salvation Army, San Jose. Army, San Jose.

History of HomelessnessHistory of Homelessness In the year 1900 there were only 123,000 people over the age of 85 in the united In the year 1900 there were only 123,000 people over the age of 85 in the united

states.  Now that number is about 2.3 million.states.  Now that number is about 2.3 million.

Out of that 2.3 million about 60,000 of them are homeless.Out of that 2.3 million about 60,000 of them are homeless.

According to a 2005 American Community Survey by the United States Census According to a 2005 American Community Survey by the United States Census Bureau, 9.9 %of the nation’s citizens 65 and older live below the poverty line. Among Bureau, 9.9 %of the nation’s citizens 65 and older live below the poverty line. Among this growing population of older adults living in poverty are people forced to grow old this growing population of older adults living in poverty are people forced to grow old in the streets and in sheltersin the streets and in shelters

Homeless persons aged 50-65 frequently fall between the cracks of governmental Homeless persons aged 50-65 frequently fall between the cracks of governmental safety nets: while not technically old enough to qualify for Medicare, their physical safety nets: while not technically old enough to qualify for Medicare, their physical health, mixed in with poor nutrition and severe living conditions, may resemble that of health, mixed in with poor nutrition and severe living conditions, may resemble that of a 70-year-old.a 70-year-old.

Homeless adults have an age-adjusted mortality rate nearly 4 times that of the general Homeless adults have an age-adjusted mortality rate nearly 4 times that of the general population; their average life span is shorter than 45 years.population; their average life span is shorter than 45 years.

Increased homelessness among elderly persons is largely the result of poverty and the Increased homelessness among elderly persons is largely the result of poverty and the declining availability of affordable housing among certain segments of the aging.declining availability of affordable housing among certain segments of the aging.

It has also been shown that through out our nations history the elderly homeless have It has also been shown that through out our nations history the elderly homeless have been the ones who are more vulnerable to hate crimes.been the ones who are more vulnerable to hate crimes.

In 2006, 27% of the homeless victims of violent crimes were between 50-59 years of In 2006, 27% of the homeless victims of violent crimes were between 50-59 years of ageage

Current Perspectives and Views Current Perspectives and Views Regarding HomelessnessRegarding Homelessness

What is the nature of the problem from different perspectives?What is the nature of the problem from different perspectives?

Poverty and low availability of affordable housing. (NCH Fact Sheet #15)Poverty and low availability of affordable housing. (NCH Fact Sheet #15) Theorists perceive homelessness as the result of interacting structural and Theorists perceive homelessness as the result of interacting structural and

individualindividualfactors (Maureen 2005) factors (Maureen 2005)

Bankruptcy (AARP bulletin today)Bankruptcy (AARP bulletin today) Not enough room in shelters (AARP bulletin today) and location of shelters Not enough room in shelters (AARP bulletin today) and location of shelters

(NCH)(NCH)

What is the dominant view in the US at this time?

People ignore this problem, but people have been paying more attention because it isaffecting middle class (AARP bulletin today)

U.S. people do not believe that elderly may suffer from severe mental illness which may lead to homelessness (Rebecca A. Proehl)

Society is slow to accept the growing need for treatment services for homeless elderly.(Proehl)

Current Issues and TrendsCurrent Issues and TrendsBad economyBad economy Expensive rent feeExpensive rent fee 2,101 of the county’s homeless persons were sheltered2,101 of the county’s homeless persons were sheltered

5,101 of the county’s homeless persons were unsheltered5,101 of the county’s homeless persons were unsheltered

EmploymentEmployment 19% are employed 19% are employed

=> 7% are employed full time=> 7% are employed full time

=> 12% are employed part time=> 12% are employed part time

Health problemsHealth problems =>=> High MortalityHigh Mortality

=>=> Unaware of public assistance and application processUnaware of public assistance and application process

Drug AdditionDrug Addition Addictions occur with trying economic times. For example, during the Addictions occur with trying economic times. For example, during the

depression, alcohol was the drug of choice. Currently, with this economic time, depression, alcohol was the drug of choice. Currently, with this economic time, meth has become the new drug of choice to self medicate or forget current meth has become the new drug of choice to self medicate or forget current situation.situation.

CausesCauses

PovertyPoverty

Decline in public assistanceDecline in public assistance

Lack of affordable HousingLack of affordable Housing

Lack of affordable health careLack of affordable health care

Domestic violenceDomestic violence

Mental illnessMental illness

Addiction disordersAddiction disorders

The loss of social networks and supportThe loss of social networks and support

How Social Workers AssistHow Social Workers AssistWhat are the common roles of the Social Worker in this field What are the common roles of the Social Worker in this field of practice?of practice? Social Workers provide services that elderly homeless Social Workers provide services that elderly homeless need.need. Service/Agency referrals Service/Agency referrals CounselingCounseling InterventionIntervention

What were the most common practice settings/What were the most common practice settings/agencies?agencies? Open 365 days a year.Open 365 days a year. Churches and Food banks Churches and Food banks Permanent and emergency sheltersPermanent and emergency shelters Available programsAvailable programs

What practice methods are used most by Social Workers in this field?What practice methods are used most by Social Workers in this field? Focused on helping people in need by providing means for recipients to stay Focused on helping people in need by providing means for recipients to stay

motivated in bettering their lives. motivated in bettering their lives.

Social work embodies the meaning help and empowerment. It Social work embodies the meaning help and empowerment. It is not an is not an

easy task, but if you use the good results you achieve as youreasy task, but if you use the good results you achieve as your

motivation, social work is more than satisfying. motivation, social work is more than satisfying.

~ Dan Guhc, Executive Director of Salvation ~ Dan Guhc, Executive Director of Salvation Army, San Jose. Army, San Jose.

Helping Hands Make A DifferenceHelping Hands Make A DifferenceLessons learned from this study…

Through this project, I have learned that there's a lot to do for the elderly that can prevent them from being homeless. That can be from keeping them away from isolation to acknowledging the need of medical assistance, but yet somehow there are people that do not seem to care for this issue (Josephine Barrera).Josephine Barrera).

  

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what kind of car I drove, the type of house I live in, or the size of my bank account. The world may be a better place because I was important in someone's life.” (Maria Gutierrez)

Through this study I learned that, challenges exist not to bring you down, but rather, to bring you up (Alex Le).

What I have learned from this project is that I have become more aware of the need that should be provided for homeless people, and that we cannot wait for agencies or others to help them, but as individuals and future social workers, we should help them meet their needs by starting with simple things (Younghoon Kwon).

I learned not to judge a book by its cover when it comes to dealing with the homeless because it is that reason many of them never get the opportunity to straighten out their lives (Kris Murthi ).Kris Murthi ).