The votes have been counted. Americans selected new elected leaders at all levels of local, state, and federal government. The inauguration of our 47th President of the United States took place on Monday.
Now it is time to put campaign rhetoric behind us and begin the difficult work of governing.
The growth in homelessness remains among voters’ top concerns. At every level, decision makers will face the challenge of finding effective solutions and the funding to make them possible.
After 30 years as the president and CEO of Serving Seniors, I have experienced many election outcomes. No matter what party prevails, our challenges remain the same. Frustration continues among voters, business owners, and civic leaders struggling to develop solutions to older adult homelessness.
Let me share my optimism. In San Diego, there is an increasing nonpartisan trend toward solving this crisis. Republicans, Democrats, and independent leaders are willing to work together to find ways to provide help, and to prevent older adults from losing their housing.
Serving Seniors has pressed our representatives to act with a sense of urgency to develop programs to address senior homelessness. We have found them receptive to data produced in studies like our 2021 Needs Assessment, and willing to work together to implement solutions without regard to party affiliation.
Whether they have recently won re-election, or are newly elected, we are optimistic to build upon the progress we have achieved working together across the political spectrum in recent years.
On the federal level, the Older Americans Act is the key driver for funding for senior nutrition programs at the national level and a major priority to help Serving Seniors fund the 1.4 million meals we serve annually. Funding was not included in the continuing budget resolution by Congress in December.
Providing meals helps blunt the impact of rising grocery prices on the fixed incomes of low-income seniors. Our CEO-Designate Melinda Forstey is the chair-elect of the board of the National Association of Nutrition and Aging Services. She is working with our national colleagues to get this law extended as early in 2025 as possible and is in communication with both Senate and House leaders.
Also of great concern are budget cuts to Medicare, Medicaid (MediCal in California), and Social Services Block Grant funding, which also supports senior nutrition programs.
We are monitoring federal proposals which would affect Social Security. The nonpartisan Committee for A Responsible Federal Budget assessed Trump Administration campaign proposals such as eliminating taxes on tips and overtime income.
According to Congressional Budget Office projections, the Social Security system would fail by fiscal year 2034 if these proposals are enacted. As a result, federal law will force a 23% cut in benefits. This would all but guarantee an exponential increase in older adult homelessness.
On the state level, Forstey and I met with key stakeholders to discuss expansion of In-Home Support Services (IHSS), which would expand care-giving options in shelters and other settings affecting older adults. We will discuss state legislation with our colleagues at San Diego’s Aging & Independence Services team which oversees IHSS. We are working with State Sen. Akilah Weber’s office to introduce this legislation in 2025.
On the local level, pilot programs addressing prevention of older adult homelessness are now underway at the County of San Diego and the City of San Diego. Both were supported by elected officials regardless of party affiliation.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria delivered blunt messages about budget challenges in his State of the City Address last week. While we understand current budget pressures, Serving Seniors urges our regional officials to continue the growth of the shallow rental subsidy approach to prevent evictions instead of struggling to shelter people after the fact.
Shallow rental subsidy programs are effective and save money. Compare the cost of a proposed $500 monthly subsidy with emergency shelter operating costs of between $2,500 to $6,000 per person monthly, depending on the type of services offered.
At the state level, we hope to see a similar pilot program reintroduced. In 2023, State Sen. Anna Caballero (D-Merced) unveiled Senate Bill 37, the Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities Housing Stability Act. Similar to the programs underway in San Diego, it would provide shallow rental subsidies for at-risk older and disabled individuals. SB 37 passed the legislature, but Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed the legislation.
The decision not to move forward with SB 37 was a lost opportunity to make real progress reducing homelessness. Instead, the state will continue to spend money on encampment cleanups which do not provide a lasting solution.
Leaders and funders agree on the need for age-friendly shelters and dedicated shelters for seniors to accommodate aging and mobility issues. The city of San Diego leased a 34-room hotel on Pacific Highway and successfully converted it into a non-congregate shelter to help aid people over 55 years old experiencing homelessness. Serving Seniors has successfully operated the shelter for two years.
To date, more than 200 seniors have successfully transitioned into permanent housing from Seniors Landing, a transition rate of 90%. This is strong evidence about the benefits of smaller shelter environments.
We acknowledge that older adult homelessness remains a daunting problem. Ensuring unhoused seniors receive age-friendly care while we work toward permanent solutions is vital, including increased access to affordable housing.
Our long-awaited housing development in Clairemont, including a new senior center, will open on January 30. This accomplishment offers hope for making real progress in solving this daunting challenge by working together in the coming year.
Paul Downey is CEO of Serving Seniors, a San Diego-based nonprofit that helps seniors in poverty live healthy and fulfilling lives.
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