Preventing Age 50+ Homelessness 🏡

[Anonymous]

💥This discussion was created on Saturday - April 17, 2021💥

Prevention is cheaper, versus rescuing us after we have become homeless!

• What measures you as one person can do to perhaps prevent your homelessness or another age 50+ person's homelessness?

• Let us discuss this onging crisis 🙂

💡MY PLAN TO HELP

I am encouraging the folks with extra $$$$ to spare to invest in building Tiny Cottages to rent to us in my location.

💡WHY I CARE

It took me being homeless July 2017 to August 2018 to care. Up to that season in my life, life was stable. It took being laid off 3 times in my 50's for reality to kick in. Lol, have no desire to be homeless agsin with me now living on Social Security alone. Yes, had to use my 401k in 2008 to pay off my brand new car. That was my 1st layoff after 9 awesome years with Harris Corporation, Melbourne, Florida. That started my unpredictible life journey, working wherever I could with no 401k.

💥WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU💥

Do you have a homeless story to share? We would luv to hear it!!!

[Tempest332]

Never seen any "homelessness"  in my area till 2022 with folks living in bus shelters in the overnight hours.   

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

(3/8/24)  🏡  VA looking for ways to help homeless veterans in southern Nevada [ktnv.com] 

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Homelessness among veterans is up 7% nationwide, according to officials from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

https://www.ktnv.com/news/va-looking-for-ways-to-help-homeless-veterans-in-southern-nevada

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

(3/8/24)  🏡  La Habra mechanic surprises homeless woman by gifting her a car (abc7.com) 

For Felicia Lemon, her car is more than a way to get around town. For her, the gift from her friend is safety and shelter.

https://abc7.com/la-habra-homeless-woman-gifted-car-mechanic/14505660/

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

(3/6/24) @LaurajW510385 , how are you these days?  🤔  I HOPE you are okay and found someplace safe and affordable.  💙💙💙

[Anonymous]

Wednesday - July 14, 2021

Things are returning to whatever the <new normal> is for us all. Hope all is well with everyone. Stay safe and treasure the time you have with loved ones. A home is not only about the building. It is about the luv we find there. Let us do what we can to encourage <Affordable Housing for Age 50+>. Getting old and homeless is not the way for our aging population! 😱

[GailL1]

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[comment deleted by poster ]

[Anonymous]

Hi @GailL1 yes, we know about this property. Thanks.

[GailL1]

[comment deleted by poster ]

[Anonymous]

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@GailL1 wrote:

Good to know - good luck on your search.

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💥Thanks @GailL1 😁💥

[DeahWA]

Hi @Anonymous 

I admit to not having enough knowledge or experience with the homelessness issue to have thought through workable solutions. But that's never stopped me from chiming in with opinions. 😉

Two things come to mind immediately:

1. I noticed in the early days of the covid pandemic my state bought up or leased a few former motels that were sitting empty but not uninhabitable. Some of our homeless citizens were moved there for shelter and health protection. I think some were used to house seniors in nursing homes that had become dangerous to them due to wide spread covid, but who were healthy enough to withstand some service disruption.

I don't see why unoccupied motels couldn't be converted as permanent living space for those in need. 

Also, I can't remember now where it is maybe in Europe, that abandoned shopping malls have also been turned into tiny apartment spaces. If the structures are still useable, there's no reason this couldn't be done everywhere, with some modification for private bathrooms, food, laundry, and other needed services.

2. I don't want to start a political war here, but America seriously needs to get over its rugged individualism mindset that is in my opinion at the root of homelessness and other injustices and inequities. We don't have anywhere near a humane and functional welfare system because everyone points to everyone else as needing to step up and do something. Clearly that isn't working.

We should look to Scandinavia for completely workable and scalable models of taking care of people, whether poor, disabled or differently abled, solitary seniors, veterans, the mentally ill, immigrants, those fleeing domestic violence, those who through no fault of their own and/or due to loss of employment due to Covid have ben evicted, who have suffered medical bankruptcy -- and just plain ole people in need.

I'm glad to see Biden's plans for beginning to address the problem of housing instability, but I'm reading that most of the funds to be allocated for this would go to only 4 states (CA, TX, FL, and NY). State government also need to step up and make this a priority. And politicians need to quit propagandizing and fighting each other, and actually work together to find useful solutions.

Plenty of money exists in the defense budget that just one year's worth of the  new equipment budget would go a very long way towards funding good solutions. I'd start with determining what that amount of money would be, then work with corporate property owners AND people in need of housing to co-create some real and long lasting results.

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

(3/6/24) @DeahWA , great points!!! Bottom line - PREVENTION is the "sensible" route to take. For example, seeking a way to pay folks a LIVING WAGE and offering REASONABLE priced housing. Sad to say, the US seems to care about the refugees, illegals and immigrants and NOT the "aging" US CITIZEN population. So many are ending up on the street...  😎

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[*** DEAH @DeahWA wrote:

Hi @Anonymous 

I admit to not having enough knowledge or experience with the homelessness issue to have thought through workable solutions. But that's never stopped me from chiming in with opinions. 😉

Two things come to mind immediately:

1. I noticed in the early days of the covid pandemic my state bought up or leased a few former motels that were sitting empty but not uninhabitable. Some of our homeless citizens were moved there for shelter and health protection. I think some were used to house seniors in nursing homes that had become dangerous to them due to wide spread covid, but who were healthy enough to withstand some service disruption.

I don't see why unoccupied motels couldn't be converted as permanent living space for those in need. 

Also, I can't remember now where it is maybe in Europe, that abandoned shopping malls have also been turned into tiny apartment spaces. If the structures are still useable, there's no reason this couldn't be done everywhere, with some modification for private bathrooms, food, laundry, and other needed services.

2. I don't want to start a political war here, but America seriously needs to get over its rugged individualism mindset that is in my opinion at the root of homelessness and other injustices and inequities. We don't have anywhere near a humane and functional welfare system because everyone points to everyone else as needing to step up and do something. Clearly that isn't working.

We should look to Scandinavia for completely workable and scalable models of taking care of people, whether poor, disabled or differently abled, solitary seniors, veterans, the mentally ill, immigrants, those fleeing domestic violence, those who through no fault of their own and/or due to loss of employment due to Covid have ben evicted, who have suffered medical bankruptcy -- and just plain ole people in need.

I'm glad to see Biden's plans for beginning to address the problem of housing instability, but I'm reading that most of the funds to be allocated for this would go to only 4 states (CA, TX, FL, and NY). State government also need to step up and make this a priority. And politicians need to quit propagandizing and fighting each other, and actually work together to find useful solutions.

Plenty of money exists in the defense budget that just one year's worth of the  new equipment budget would go a very long way towards funding good solutions. I'd start with determining what that amount of money would be, then work with corporate property owners AND people in need of housing to co-create some real and long lasting results. ***]

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[Anonymous]

💥Saturday - April 17, 2021💥

Hi @DeahWA I really appreciate you stopping by to join our discussion 🙂 Great insights!!!!

[GailL1]

  [comment deleted by poster ]

[Anonymous]

💥Saturday - April 17, 2021💥

• Hi @GailL1 I really appreciate you stopping by to join our discussion 🙂 Great points, thanks.
• I am interested in AFFORDABLE regular rentals, NO SECTION 8 or DISABLED set up. Lol, got enough of that here.
• I am a healthy 63-year old, on Social Security only.
• A lot of investors in this area.
• My goal is to bring ATTENTION to seniors like myself who DO NOT qualify for housing help.

[GailL1]

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[ comment deleted by poster ]

[Anonymous]

💥Tuesday - April 27, 2021💥

Hi @GailL1 thanks for your second comment dated April 19th 🙂

1. I have faced impossible situations in the past and NEVER gave up = stuff fell in place. Not ALL investors are about $$$ Some have hearts or have experienced being HOMELESS themselves.
2. I am sure there are CHEAPER studio apartments out there in the crime-ridden city. Lol, spent 13 long months (July 2017 to August 2018) staying at the only shelter here, located downtown riding the unreliable city bus and walking for hours to get to my job. I made a PROMISE to myself that DOWNTOWN would NOT be seeing EXCEPT for my doctor's and dentist's appointments which are ALWAYS the first one for the morning. Hate getting up early, but trust me, I KNOW too much about downtown. My SAFETY comes first.
3. Bottom line, it took me being HOMELESS in my OLD age, see a 90-year old die in her sleep at the shelter to CARE. Any of us can be HOMELESS due to UNPLANNED stuff. Who plans on getting cancer as an example = needing a lot of care NOT covered by insurance. Or have our home destroyed by fire = got to go stay with someone or rent/buy another place. Life is EXCITING, but also UNPREDICTABLE.

[GailL1]

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[comment deleted by poster ]

[Anonymous]

💥Tuesday - April 27, 2021💥

• Yes @GailL1 a lot us were prepared and life was good until the economy fell in my case in 2008.
• Up till then, awesome insurance with short-term included, awesome paycheck and had my 401k up to 12%. Company matched up to 6%.
• My concern is not about my health, my concern is the increasing rent for folks like myself.
• Everyone's PRIORITIES will be DIFFERENT.

[GailL1]

[ comment deleted by poster]

[Anonymous]

💥Wednesday - April 28, 2021💥

1. Good for you @GailL1 that your life is perfect 🙂
2. And in this post I do not mention Tiny Living as Virginia where I live is not zoned for them. A Tiny Cottage is a regular set up for me 🙂
3. In this post I had asked folks their thoughts on preventing age 50+ homelessness. People who care about this crisis or who have experienced homelessness. It is going to take people in their communities caring and getting involved.

[GailL1]

[comment deleted by poster ] 

[BertyBGone]

I have never been homeless and thankfully don't foresee that extreme circumstance happening to me, thanks to family taking me in if I needed a home.  But that would necessitate a move across the country which does not appeal to me. 

My issue is with rents going up and up but my income staying basically the same.  My monthly rent is now higher than my entire Social Security check!  So I'm dipping into savings to cover higher rent plus utilities, etc. 

Tiny houses are fairly common where I live (Oregon) and some are being built specifically for the homeless community.  But they are not inexpensive to buy in my area.  More common for seniors is a kind of communal housing, where several "members" share a kitchen and bath but have their own rooms.  I have not looked into details of this type of arrangement because it doesn't really appeal to me.  

I'm always interested in ideas and suggestions for possibly finding a compatible housemate to share expenses.  It's not easy!

[SpringIsHereSoHappy]

(3/6/24) @BertyBGone , I hope you are well! Yes, my rent is going up $45 this April for a Studio Apartment in Cave Spring, Virginia. And yes, we did get an INCREASE in our Retirement Social Security BUT it does NOT cover the "increases" in our bills and food.  😎

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[*** @BertyBGone wrote:

I have never been homeless and thankfully don't foresee that extreme circumstance happening to me, thanks to family taking me in if I needed a home.  But that would necessitate a move across the country which does not appeal to me. 

My issue is with rents going up and up but my income staying basically the same.  My monthly rent is now higher than my entire Social Security check!  So I'm dipping into savings to cover higher rent plus utilities, etc. 

Tiny houses are fairly common where I live (Oregon) and some are being built specifically for the homeless community.  But they are not inexpensive to buy in my area.  More common for seniors is a kind of communal housing, where several "members" share a kitchen and bath but have their own rooms.  I have not looked into details of this type of arrangement because it doesn't really appeal to me.  

I'm always interested in ideas and suggestions for possibly finding a compatible housemate to share expenses.  It's not easy! ***]

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[Anonymous]

💥Saturday - April 17, 2021💥

Hi @BertyBGone I really appreciate you joining our discussion 🙂 I am not into roommates or communal living. Virginia is not zoned for Tiny Living Communities. I want to rent a Tiny Cottage. I also want to visit the AARP CEO in Washington once the pandemic is behind us (no masks or 6 feet). She has the INFLUENCE to SPEAK on our behalf 🙂 

[LaurajW510385]

For all from me: In preventing anything from happening here in the USA is to support what is no longer there; jobs, manufacturing, electronics industry, etc etc. I've asked more than 3 times to go pick crops here in the USA to put food on someone else's table to eat. I am not allowed to do so because I'm an American, I have a Blue Card (SS#), I speak English therefore those types of jobs belong to the illegal. This is my country & I have the Right to work.

The workforce needs to be there & for me to ever start my own business is going to take me some time, some support, some start-up funds, & I guess quite a few other things. The jobs need to be here for me as well as others.

I met a US Veteran who refused a VA physician because the physician had some of its personal identification on its wall & the Veteran could not pronounce the name. The Veteran is Correct.

The economic factor needs to be here again in the USA. Made in the USA.

I know what its like to be forced against my will homeless, unemployed, housing discrimination, any discrimination & with all the rules laws policies that are there have not helped one bit.

I am still We the People & the garbage that is there now taking everything away from me has got to go.

Stay Healthy!!!

[Tempest332]

@LaurajW510385 These "electronics" jobs really pay very little unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

💥Sunday - April 18, 2021💥

You are so RIGHT @LaurajW510385 !!!  I was NOT an addict, NOT disabled, NEVER been to jail or put up with domestic violence = no assistance. But I made it after 13 months in the local shelter here. EVERY day I have to TALK to myself to REMIND me that NO ONE understands my DAILY concern over RAISING rents unless they have WALKED in my shoes. Thank you SO MUCH for SHARING. You understand!!!

[LaurajW510385]

You are Welcome!

Oh Angela understanding is a small word more like "experience" & not allowed on my resume as a skill or talent. Its no longer easy for someone such as myself for being an American & having to endure such....craziness.

Yet I keep my Faith & I Trust in Him-One Nation Under GOD.

I'm still going through the same: being forced out of an apt. as an Elderly Woman to say the least & thus far I'm still here & no help with any laws, policies, rules, regulations, not even an act of congress has helped. I have been able to tell a couple of people No! I'm staying right where I'm at & Bless Him I'm still here enduring the law breakers unhealthy environment(s).

You take each & every moment as that. The shelter let you stay that long that is a Miracle. It will get better than this 3rd world county I now reside in. Smile!!

Stay Healthy!!!

[Anonymous]

💥Sunday - April 18, 2021💥

I am SO SORRY about your apartment @LaurajW510385 . I live in a complex owned by a SLUM landlord who raises the rent when he feels like it. You COMPLAIN = illegal eviction. I am over it at age 63 😤