At 73, Eugene was facing homelessness with nowhere to go. His partner had recently moved into a nursing home, and without that second income, he could no longer afford their shared apartment. With winter approaching and no options in sight, Eugene was on the brink of sleeping in the cold.
As soon as we received a call about his situation, we knew we had to act. At Good Sam, we’ve seen an increasing number of older adults turning to us for help—a trend that mirrors what’s happening across the country. More seniors than ever are facing homelessness.
Why? Rising rent costs and the affordable housing crisis make it hard for those on a fixed income and social security to meet their rent payments. On average, older adults are more likely to spend 50% or more of their monthly income on rent. And when half of your already limited income is going to cover your rent, there’s not much room for anything else. Nationally, 1 in 5 people facing homelessness are 55+, a number we see reflected in our participants.
This was the case with Eugene. With his fixed income and health needs, we had to be creative with where to place him.
Good Sam was able to quickly move him into a boarding house where his rent would be within his budget, and he proudly signed the lease to his own place.
It seemed like the perfect solution until we realized that with his limited mobility, walking up a flight of steps was getting harder and harder. Eugene was at the point where he needed deeper care.
We needed a different option, and that’s when we learned about Domiciliary Care [Dom Care]. This program acts like Foster Care for adults, where the older adult moves into a home with a provider who provides housing, three healthy meals a day, personal care in accordance with their needs, laundry, and help with medical appointments and medications. It’s a housing solution for older adults who aren’t ready to enter a nursing home but still need a little additional help when it comes to day-to-day living.
Eugene moved into one of these homes and now, he no longer has to worry about grocery shopping or preparing food—and he has a safe and affordable place to live.
And the thing he was most excited about? The provider has a dog, something Eugene can no longer have on his own.
Eugene’s story is just one example of the growing crisis among older adults experiencing homelessness. With limited incomes, rising rents, and increasing health needs, many seniors find themselves in situations they never imagined—without housing or proper care. Because we were able to walk alongside Eugene and advocate for his needs, he didn’t end up sleeping in the cold. He instead was able to thrive.
No one should have to worry about where to spend the night, and that is why Good Sam is so committed to walking alongside individuals like Eugene through every phase of their journey.
