WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, released the following statement in response to the Government Accountability Office’s report highlighting the critical state of homelessness among older adults.   

“Today, following a request I made in 2022 as Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee alongside Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released one of the most comprehensive federal reports examining the state of rising homelessness among older adults (aged 55 years and older). I called for this study to examine the unique challenges faced by older adults experiencing homelessness to help our country prepare for demographic shifts, and ensure programs and services equitably meet the needs of older adults experiencing homelessness. My request also included a deep dive into existing disparities among this population across race, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, and geography that may contribute to housing insecurity and prolonged homelessness.  

"As the report notes, an estimated 138,000 older adults were experiencing homelessness in 2023, representing 21% of the overall homeless population. Incorporating community site visits and interviews, GAO found that the barriers to fair and affordable housing for older adults, including the limitations of fixed incomes, are often compounded by urgent accessibility and health care needs. For instance, older adults with disabilities, including mobility limitations and chronic conditions, who require housing that is equipped with accessibility features typically find it difficult to secure housing that meets these needs. What’s more, the GAO also found that some older adults face barriers when trying to access homeless services as a result of unequal treatment or discrimination and cultural insensitivity as it relates to race, ethnicity, and gender. GAO’s report also highlights our nation’s worsening housing supply and affordability crisis as a key factor in rising homelessness among older adults. 

"GAO’s findings are deeply troubling and add evidence to the need to pass my housing package which includes H.R. 4233, the ‘Housing Crisis Response Act.’ This bill provides significant additional resources to ensure seniors are stably and affordably housed. In addition to $800 million to root out discrimination in housing, this bill specifically includes an investment of $1 billion to build more supportive housing for seniors and people with disabilities as well as $90 million in home repair grants to help older adults age in place in rural areas. While the GAO report focused on seniors, we know that more than 653,100 people are experiencing homelessness nationwide, and there is no county across the country where housing is affordable to minimum wage workers. That’s why I’ve authored a comprehensive housing package to end the affordable housing and homelessness crisis once and for all, which in addition to H.R. 4233, also includes H.R. 4232, the ‘Ending Homelessness Act’ and H.R. 4231, the ‘Downpayment Toward Equity Act.’ Together, these bills would spur the development of affordable homes, bring down housing costs, and revive the dream of homeownership to help put an end to homelessness, especially among older adults, and to ensure that everyone has equal access to a fair and affordable place to call home.”