Specialized Shelters Address Rising Senior Homelessness
Older adults represent the fastest-growing demographic within the homeless population nationwide, according to researcher Dennis Culhane at the University of Pennsylvania. This increase includes both individuals experiencing chronic homelessness who are aging and older adults who are becoming homeless for the first time.
Traditional homeless shelters often face challenges in accommodating the needs of individuals aged 65 and above due to mobility issues, medication management, and the need for accessible bathrooms. Some shelters may ask older adults to leave if self-care capabilities are insufficient.
The MVP Shelter Model
In Sandy, Utah, the Medically Vulnerable People (MVP) shelter has been established to serve individuals aged 62 and older, as well as younger adults with chronic health conditions. This facility, a converted two-story brick hotel, provides semiprivate rooms equipped for wheelchairs and other mobility aids. Each room includes a private bathroom, which addresses incontinence challenges among older residents.
Crucially, the MVP shelter offers on-site medical care. Jamie Mangum, a resident in her 50s with lung cancer, reported receiving immediate assistance from an emergency medical technician after a fall, a service she indicated was unavailable at previous shelters. Specialized case managers at the MVP shelter assist residents in arranging treatments.
Baleigh Dellos, manager of the MVP shelter for The Road Home nonprofit, noted the facility's capacity to care for clients with complex medical needs, including those requiring memory care due to conditions like dementia that may have led to eviction.
EMTs and specialized medical case managers provide immediate care and assistance. Primary care doctors and therapists conduct weekly visits, and physical therapy is available on-site in private spaces.
Health Stabilization and Pathways to Housing
The MVP shelter collaborates with the Fourth Street Clinic in Salt Lake City to provide on-site medical services. Matt Haroldsen of the Fourth Street Clinic identifies medication management as a primary need for new residents. Homeless individuals often encounter difficulties securing and maintaining regular medications, such as loss, theft, or spoilage of temperature-sensitive drugs like insulin.
Stabilizing health conditions through consistent medication access enables residents to focus on obtaining necessary documents like IDs for disability, Social Security, and other support programs, which are essential steps toward securing permanent housing.
National Trend and Outcomes
Similar specialized shelters have been established in Florida, California, and Arizona to address the specific needs of older homeless adults. Caitlin Synovec, assistant director of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, stated that access to such specialized facilities can be critical for survival, particularly in cold climates where traditional shelters may deny beds due to health issues. An incident in Bozeman, Montana, in 2022, where an older adult reportedly froze to death after being denied shelter due to incontinence, highlights these risks. Shelters are also typically not equipped to manage residents with complex medical needs such as oxygen use, which poses fire hazards.
Synovec emphasizes that improving access to healthcare within shelters is key to ensuring success once older adults transition to permanent housing, as health issues frequently contribute to housing instability.
The MVP shelter model has demonstrated effectiveness. Jacob Torner, vice president of programs for the TaskForce for Ending Homelessness in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, reported that over 80% of participants in their Elder Haven program moved into stable or permanent housing in the past year. The MVP shelter near Salt Lake City housed 36 older adults permanently within the first 11 months of 2025. However, the shelter maintains a waitlist of approximately 200 individuals, prioritizing based on medical need rather than wait time.
Resident Experiences
Jeff Gregg, 62, a resident at the MVP shelter, reported that the environment allowed him to focus on recovery from a decades-long opioid addiction, which stemmed from an old back injury. He stated that sobriety became achievable once basic needs like food and shelter were met. Gregg underwent back surgery following his recovery period and anticipates securing employment to afford an apartment.