Erickson’s death highlights a deepening crisis for aging Americans who lack a safety net. In California, people over 55 are the fastest-growing group of unhoused individuals, with two million seniors struggling to afford housing, health care and other basic needs, with millions more nationwide.
Without a greater investment in solutions that enable Americans to age with dignity in their communities, the challenges facing the aging population will only deepen, said Patti Prunhuber, director of housing advocacy at Justice in Aging, an anti-poverty organization. “Inaction will result in a growing number of older adults facing housing instability and homelessness,” she warned.
