Risk Factors and Service Needs for Homeless Older Adults

Homeless older adults comprise a growing yet understudied segment of the population. While the majority of studies describing the characteristics of homeless people and their pathways to homelessness tend to focus on families and so-called ‘working age’ adults, some researchers have begun to consider the consequences of an aging society on policies and services for this population. Social workers can benefit from understanding the risk factors and service needs of older adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness in order to prevent homelessness and/or provide necessary services to assist older clients in gaining and retaining permanent housing.