Baby boomers becoming homeless at a rate ‘not seen since the Great Depression’

[ProudVirgin69]

Many baby boomers across the country are now coming to terms with the hard reality that working for your entire adult life is no longer enough to guarantee you’ll have a roof over your head in your later years.

Thanks in part to a series of recessions, high housing costs and a shortage of affordable housing, older adults are now the fastest-growing segment of America’s homeless population, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, based on data from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

In a 2020 journal article for the American Society on Aging, Kushel wrote that of all the homeless single adults in the early 1990s, 11% were aged 50 and older. By 2003, she says that percentage grew to 37%.

Now, the over-50 demographic represents half of the homeless single adults in the U.S. — with no sign of their numbers slowing, leaving baby boomers (those aged 57 to 75) particularly vulnerable.

Researchers at UCSF told WSJ that about half of the homeless older adults in places like Oakland, California and New York, became unhoused for the first time after their 50th birthday.

These individuals pointed to a major event, like the death of a spouse or a medical emergency, as the trigger.

“It’s an entirely different population,” said Kushel. “These are people who worked their whole lives. They had typical lives, often working physically demanding jobs, and never made enough to put money away.”

Absolutely heartbreaking.  It’s been estimated that homelessness in the US could be largely solved for about $18B.  An enormous sum of money, sure, but a small fraction of the money spent on our bloated military.  And yet, our legislstors would rather send that money to the Ukraine so they can buy illegal munitions and fund neonazi militias. 

A medical emergency and a few missed mortgage payments are all that separate most of us living in homes from the homeless.

[residue]

Don’t help them, that’s socialism

[Rmj11]

Absolutely heartbreaking.  It’s been estimated that homelessness in the US could be largely solved for about $18B.  An enormous sum of money, sure, but a small fraction of the money spent on our bloated military.  And yet, our legislstors would rather send that money to the Ukraine so they can buy illegal munitions and fund neonazi militias. 

A medical emergency and a few missed mortgage payments are all that separate most of us living in homes from the homeless.

F@ck 'em

[robcguns]

Yes instead of sending hundreds of billions to Ukraine and wasting money on “covid” vaccines help these older homeless people. They built the fucking country for christs sake. Fuck the illegals and fuck helping other countries. How can the powers that be think that this problem should go unanswered?

Seriously how the fuck can we house the illegals and buy their groceries,pay their phones and give them clothes when we can’t house are own people?

[Rmj11]

Yes instead of sending hundreds of billions to Ukraine and wasting money on “covid” vaccines help these older homeless people. They built the fucking country for christs sake. Fuck the illegals and fuck helping other countries. How can the powers that be think that this problem should go unanswered?

Seriously how the fuck can we house the illegals and buy their groceries,pay their phones and give them clothes when we can’t house are own people?

Why don't you house them until they get back on their feet? If you really cared you would.

[robcguns]

Why don't you house them until they get back on their feet? If you really cared you would.

Yes that makes sense. You are a complete moron.

[Rmj11]

Yes that makes sense. You are a complete moron.

Yep, I agree. You're definitely that.

[BBSSchlemiel]

I feel sad saying this but a chunk of the boomer population brought this calamity onto themselves.

[ProudVirgin69]

Why don't you house them until they get back on their feet? If you really cared you would.

Systemic issues can’t be solved through individual action.

Yes instead of sending hundreds of billions to Ukraine and wasting money on “covid” vaccines help these older homeless people. They built the fucking country for christs sake. Fuck the illegals and fuck helping other countries. How can the powers that be think that this problem should go unanswered?

Seriously how the fuck can we house the illegals and buy their groceries,pay their phones and give them clothes when we can’t house are own people?

Great post. What kind of shitty country won’t help its own citizens?  I can’t help but think the cruelty is intentional.

Worst of all are the homeless veterans.  They signed up to fight for this country and once they’re no longer in the military, they’re discarded and forgotten about by our legislators.

I feel sad saying this but a chunk of the boomer population brought this calamity onto themselves.

I agree somewhat.  I still think they should be helped out.  Large amounts of homelessness is bad for everyone

[Rmj11]

Systemic issues can’t be solved through individual action.

Yes it can.

[Never1AShow]

Absolutely heartbreaking.  It’s been estimated that homelessness in the US could be largely solved for about $18B.  An enormous sum of money, sure, but a small fraction of the money spent on our bloated military.  And yet, our legislstors would rather send that money to the Ukraine so they can buy illegal munitions and fund neonazi militias. 

A medical emergency and a few missed mortgage payments are all that separate most of us living in homes from the homeless.

It cannot be solved for 18 Billion or 18 Trillion as long as they pretend it is not a mental health and drug addiction problem.  95% plus is drugs and mental illness the homeless activist lie about.  Easily fixed tomorrow with this understanding, never fized without it.

[BBSSchlemiel]

I agree somewhat.  I still think they should be helped out.  Large amounts of homelessness is bad for everyone

No doubt.

[residue]

It cannot be solved for 18 Billion or 18 Trillion as long as they pretend it is not a mental health and drug addiction problem.  95% plus is drugs and mental illness the homeless activist lie about.  Easily fixed tomorrow with this understanding, never fized without it.

They’re not pretending, they don’t care, hell it’s by design. Folks past labor age have no use, that’s the free market

[beakdoctor]

If that's true, which I doubt, it's only because they are living longer and inflation is outpacing their pension.

[BlackMetallic]

It cannot be solved for 18 Billion or 18 Trillion as long as they pretend it is not a mental health and drug addiction problem.  95% plus is drugs and mental illness the homeless activist lie about.  Easily fixed tomorrow with this understanding, never fized without it.

Moral bankruptcy played a huge part in this

[deadz]

Yes instead of sending hundreds of billions to Ukraine and wasting money on “covid” vaccines help these older homeless people. They built the fucking country for christs sake. Fuck the illegals and fuck helping other countries. How can the powers that be think that this problem should go unanswered?

Seriously how the fuck can we house the illegals and buy their groceries,pay their phones and give them clothes when we can’t house are own people?

WOKE TARDS

[robcguns]

Yep, I agree. You're definitely that.

Hey rimjob you can lick on my grundle fruit nuts.

[Thin Lizzy]

It cannot be solved for 18 Billion or 18 Trillion as long as they pretend it is not a mental health and drug addiction problem.  95% plus is drugs and mental illness the homeless activist lie about.  Easily fixed tomorrow with this understanding, never fized without it.

Some people just believe that more government spending will solve every problem.

You have this problem even though every year the Federal government sucks over 2 trillion out of the economy for social programs.

It is possible that the country would have been much wealthier and that the private sector might have done a better job of addressing these issues.

At this point it doesn’t matter. The country is morally and financially bankrupt.

[IroNat]

Boomers are only broke if they did not plan for retirement.

A lot of them just didn't save and lived beyond their means.

F*ck 'em.

[residue]

Some people just believe that more government spending will solve every problem.

You have this problem even though every year the Federal government sucks over 2 trillion out of the economy for social programs.

It is possible that the country would have been much wealthier and that the private sector might have done a better job of addressing these issues.

At this point it doesn’t matter. The country is morally and financially bankrupt.

Not more spending, just adjusted spending.

[Rambone]

Boomers should be drafted to fight in WW3

[Primemuscle]

While I have empathy for folks who are homeless, I understand there are multiple reasons this happens. Mostly, these folks don't become homeless by accident or through no fault of their own. Insufficient retirement planning is one major reason for Baby Boomers finding themselves living at the poverty level and perhaps unable to afford housing. Another problem is families are for whatever reason less inclined to take care of their own.

Although I am slightly too old to officially be a Baby Boomer. Folks like me who were born between 1922-1945 are referred to as 'the Silent Generation' or 'the Traditionalist generation'. It was commonly understood that children should be seen and not heard. Something my parents did not hesitate to remind me. One thing some of they had in common was that they experienced the Great Depression which was between 1929–1941.

My mom was born in 1923 so she was also part of the Traditionalist generation since there was an overlap. My dad was born in 1916 which is known as 'The Greatest Generation'. Both my parents lived during the Great Depression, which had a big impact on them, although neither parent was ever homeless as they were both children of financially successful professionals.
My paternal grandfather was a dental surgeon, and my maternal grandfather was a Harvard School of Law graduate and corporate attorney with a license to practice in multiple states. Even so, my mom told me of times they had bread and milk for dinner. My paternal grandfather spent a lot of money helping less fortunate family members during that time.

Growing up hearing about the Great Depression was likely instrumental in my being financially conservative most of my adult life. Planning for retirement required my wife and I to make sacrifices along the way. It seems as if many people today have an attitude that they 'deserve' to have everything others do, so they go into debt rather than save for the future. When these folks reach retirement age with no retirement plan or an underfunded one, they sometimes end up impoverished. Like it or not, this is their own doing.

[ProudVirgin69]

Mostly, these folks don't become homeless by accident or through no fault of their own.

Major medical emergency or death of spouse are primary causes for homelessness, as cited in the article. 

[ProudVirgin69]

It cannot be solved for 18 Billion or 18 Trillion as long as they pretend it is not a mental health and drug addiction problem.  95% plus is drugs and mental illness the homeless activist lie about.  Easily fixed tomorrow with this understanding, never fized without it.

Common misconception.  Do you really think people that become homeless for the first time at 50 or older lose their homes because of mental illness or drug addiction?

A major medical emergency that saddles you with hundreds of thousands of medical debt and renders you unable to work would likely have you losing your home.  It can happen to almost anyone.

[IroNat]

Major medical emergency or death of spouse are primary causes for homelessness, as cited in the article. 

Yes, it can happen but it's rare.

Why don't they have health insurance?

It's irresponsible to not have health insurance.

You have to budget for it if your employer does not provide it.

Some people, particularly self-employed, bet they won't get sick or hurt and don't buy insurance.

They lose the bet.