Aug 12, 2025
South Florida resident Carolyn is 78 years old — and at a time in her life when she should be enjoying life’s comforts, she instead was living in her car because she couldn't afford a home.
“I look at it as a journey. I’ve had many journeys in my life,” she told WSVN 7News in a story published May 13.
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Carolyn isn't the only older American in that boat. A growing portion of seniors in parts of Florida are grappling with homelessness — and the problem is projected to keep getting worse.
Homelessness is hitting older Floridians
Carolyn had been living in her vehicle for two months at the time, and 7News reports she has only Social Security for income. She didn't share her monthly benefit amount, but the average retired worker today collects about $2,000 a month.
Carolyn has sold many of her possessions, but simply came up short on money for housing. In the absence of a bed, she slept upright in her car instead of lying down.
“I sleep here in this seat, scrunched down. My ankles and legs are swollen from having to sit all the time,” she said. “I buy jug water, it’s cheaper. And I eat one meal a day, for $2.02.”
Thanks to her Medicare plan, Carolyn had free access to a gym where she could shower, per 7News. But her experience was far from living in an actual home.
Cassandra Rhett, the Housing and Social Services Manager for the City of Pompano Beach, was trying to help find her one. Rhett was inspired to help knowing that anyone could end up in a situation like Carolyn's.
“It could be my aunt, it could be my mother. It just breaks my heart just how humble Carolyn is,” she told 7News with tears in her eyes.
Rhett blamed the situation on skyrocketing rents.
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Ron Book, chairman of the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, says that homeless seniors are incredibly vulnerable and in need of help.
“We know if you put vulnerable elderly on the street, they’re going to die earlier,” he told 7News. “The face of homelessness has changed. I want people in our community to think about their mothers, and their grandmothers, and their grandfathers being homeless for the first time.”
In 2019, people aged 65 and older made up nearly 8% of the homeless population in Miami-Dade County, according to 7News, citing data from the Homeless Trust. By 2024, that number reached 14%, and it’s projected to climb to 22% by 2030.
Meanwhile, Carolyn has since found a home. In a follow-up story published June 5, 7News reports she’s now living in a one-bedroom apartment in a 55-plus community, made possible thanks to an outpouring of local support following the initial story's broadcast date. Her rent, nearly $1,200, is partly covered by Broward County’s Elderly and Veterans Services, which allows her to afford the space on her Social Security.
Carolyn hopes sharing her story sheds light on the problem of seniors facing homelessness.
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“It can happen to anyone. Don’t think it can’t,” she warned.
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Homelessness among seniors is a major problem
Americans aged 50 and over are the fastest growing group of people who are going homeless in the country, according to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.
The National Alliance to End Homelessness, meanwhile, reports that in 2023, roughly 138,000 Americans aged 55 and older experienced homelessness on a given night, representing 20% of all homeless individuals.
The organization also noted, in 2020, that 5 million Americans aged 65 and over lived below the poverty line, which at the time was $12,760 for a household of one, per HHS data.
There are a few reasons why older Americans may not be able to afford housing. First, many people who reach retirement have only Social Security to live on.
A 2024 AARP survey found that 20% of Americans aged 50 and over had no retirement savings. As noted earlier, the average retired worker Social Security benefit is about $2,000 a month. But Zillow puts the average U.S. rent for a one-bedroom unit at just under $1,600 per month.
In addition to worrying about rent, health costs tend to rise with age. And those with limited incomes sometimes have to choose between paying for medical care and medication versus other bills.
It’s important that seniors at risk of homelessness know how to get access to the support they need. The Department of Housing and Urban Development, for example, has an online tool to help people seek out emergency shelter, as well as food pantries and health clinics. You can also use this list of resources to find homeless assistance programs in your state.
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Maurie Backman has been writing professionally for well over a decade. Since becoming a full-time writer, she's produced thousands of articles on topics ranging from Social Security to investing to real estate.
