Changing the Narrative: Aging Without a Home Webinar Tackles the Issues of a Growing Population of Homeless Seniors
California is facing an unprecedented crisis of people in their 50s, 60s and 70s living on our streets. A recent study* found people over 50 now account for half of unhoused adults and nearly half became homeless for the first time after the age of 50.
The upcoming Changing the Narrative Series: Aging Without a Home on Thursday, May 26th, 12 noon to 1:30 pm will directly address the unique challenges of an aging homeless population. Register to join the Zoom webinar at https://unionstationhs.org/CNS8M and learn about the implications of older adults becoming a growing proportion of the homeless population.
“Tragically, 90 percent of unsheltered older adults lived in Los Angeles County prior to becoming unsheltered. These are our neighbors who have lived and worked in our communities for years but now are being forced out into the streets in their senior years,” states Anne Miskey, CEO, Union Station Homeless Services.
Anne Miskey, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services, will moderate a panel of three experts to explore if, as a society, we are ready for the more complex needs of older adults being unsheltered.
Yelba Carrillo, Ed.D – Sr Manager, Homeless Systems Change (Seniors) Home for Good, United Way
Yelba Carrillo has extensive experience in the nonprofit sector working with the Older Adult, Veteran, and the LGBTQIA+ communities in Los Angeles. Her experience includes community organization, planning, administration, and direct service. She has been with United Way of Greater Los Angeles since 2020 and in the last year co-authored and oversaw the implementation of United Way’s The Older Adult Strategy: A Roadmap of Strategic System Investments to End Homelessness Among Older Adults in LA.
Dr. Dennis Culhane, Professor, School of Social Policy & Practice, University of Pennsylvania
Dennis Culhane is a social science researcher with primary expertise in the area of homelessness and assisted housing policy. His research has focused on using linked administrative data to gain a better understanding about the service utilization patterns of vulnerable populations, including youth exiting foster care and/or juvenile justice, as well as the individuals aged 55 and older who are experiencing homelessness.
Alfred “AJ” Johnson, Lived Expertise Advocate and Retired Journeyman Carpenter
As a man with lived expertise, AJ brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to this panel discussion around the growing epidemic that is Senior Homelessness. A 72-year-old who is retired and on a fixed income, AJ had rented a room in a large house for $850 where he shared a bathroom and kitchen with the other tenants. After his landlord evicted everyone to subdivide the rooms, AJ lived in a van for two years. Currently he is living in his own apartment with supportive services in Arcadia.
“To truly meet the needs of the individual, we must also address and educate the public about social issues that are at the root of homelessness. Our call to action is encapsulated in the series name and is the goal of each session — Changing the Narrative,” stated Anne Miskey, CEO Union Station Homeless Services.
This is the eighth in the Changing the Narrative Series, a free educational series created by Union Station Homeless Services to deepen community understanding of homelessness and housing. Recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the Most Innovative Awareness Campaign within the Los Angeles community, recordings of past webinars and action resource guides can be accessed at https://unionstationhs.org/changing-the-narrative-series/.
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Union Station Homeless Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to
providing permanent solutions to end homelessness and rebuild lives. Headquartered in
Pasadena, CA, Union Station has been in existence for almost 50 years. Union Station is the San
Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and
families. Recently expanding into El Sereno and Eagle Rock, we are the lead county agency for
Service Planning Area 3 (SPA 3), coordinating homeless services in 36 communities, with a
combined population of over 1.5 million across the San Gabriel Valley. Our mission is guided by
the belief that everyone deserves a life of dignity and a place to call home. For more
information, visit www.unionstationhs.org.
*”Aging Among the Homeless Population: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions”
Study by UC San Francisco expert Dr. Margot Kushel