This crisis of elderly women facing homelessness is a new phenomenon, and the number of women in need is increasing. Their struggles are exacerbated by lack of affordable housing and shelter's having limited bed space. The woman featured in this photo is over 60.
The U.S. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Annual Homelessness Assessment Report found that during a single night last January, the number of children and adults under 35 experiencing homelessness in Pima County was up by 13% from the previous year to nearly 800 people. And the number of women increased by 9% to 685 people.
Despite the slight overall drop from 2023, the number of people without stable living in Pima County has increased by about 62% compared to pre-pandemic numbers.
These point-in-time estimates, collected by local agencies throughout the country provide an annual snapshot of people in shelters, temporary housing and unsheltered settings.
HUD says the year-old data likely doesn’t reflect current circumstances. This year’s count takes place in about 3 weeks.
By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.