The issue of homelessness is not just a glance in a rearview mirror for many Arizona seniors - it's a present reality. According to a report by the Arizona Department of Economic Security, over 4,500 individuals aged 55 and older received homelessness assistance in 2022, marking them as the most vulnerable group in the face of a housing crisis. These older adults are struggling on a tightrope of fixed incomes, leaving them with few options as prices rise and social support remains stretched thin.
In response, Phoenix has taken a notable step by converting an old Super 8 hotel into permanent housing tailored to these seniors' financial restrictions. Government funding, including a generous infusion from the American Rescue Plan Act, has been pivotal to the project. "Seniors are typically on a very fixed income... So they need to be able to find a unit that will fit within their budget knowing that they’re not anticipating getting raises," Rachel Milne, director of the Phoenix Office of Homeless Solutions told AZPM News.
Moreover, Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema stepped up with an announcement of a $3 million federal funding grant aimed at supporting the unique housing initiative. This move epitomizes an emergent commitment to combat the blight of senior homelessness rather than applying mere band-aids such a temporary shelters.
Amidst these efforts, Justa Center in downtown Phoenix emerges as a beacon of hope, focusing solely on aiding the aging homeless with services ranging from daily meals to housing assistance. "We’re like a family," Dean Scheinert, executive director at Justa Center, emphasized in an interview with AZPM News, touching upon the center's community-centric approach. The nonprofit provides a crucial lifeline for folks like John Dean, who, after a fire ravaged his apartment, found solace and support in the organization's offerings. "It’s very hard. Very hard. You have nowhere to go, you know? It’s real hard," John Dean confided to AZPM News.
While the state makes headway with housing projects for seniors, Scheinert notes the enduring challenge of a stark lack of affordable housing and a need for a stronger public policy focus. Yet, the arrival future of federal funding, such as $850,000 earmarked for Justa Center, suggests a pivot towards acknowledging and addressing the plights faced by our society's elderly members.
