Resources for homeless senior in Southern California
February 20, 2018 6:57 AM Subscribe
I just found out my dad has been sleeping rough for a couple weeks, and I am looking for next steps to help him find housing and stability. Do you know of resources for housing for people over 55+ who are functionally out of the system (but have a SSN)?
My dad has been homeless off and on for about 30 years. He is an expert couchsurfer. He is an alcoholic, and is very manipulative - borrows money and moves himself in with anyone who allows it. He has no experience with shelters or dealing with the "system" - he has worked as a carpenter, paid under the table, his entire life and has been struggling as he ages out of the workforce. I have siblings who are much younger than I am and more vulnerable to his manipulations - I went no contact with him for 10 years until his dad died and keep a strong distance between us. I do, however, pay for his phone, which was stolen yesterday when he was asleep under a bush near a job site.
I don't know if he's ever paid into social security, he hasn't had a driver's license in almost twenty years, and I don't really know where to start to do my own research for what is available for him in the Wildomar/Elsinore/Temecula area of Southern California. He may have briefly had Medicare a couple years ago.
He lived with a relative and a friend for the past few years, rent-free, which predictably didn't end well. When it did end, he immediately started hitting up my siblings for a place to stay, which burned up any good will he'd earned during his brief period of stability, where a "visit" to see grandkids was in all actuality a real visit, where he paid his own way and left after a short duration. Recently he attempted another visit which cost my siblings several hundred dollars (that they can not afford) and which ended when I stepped in and had one of them buy him a bus pass back to the Wildomar area. My grandmother lives there and drives him to jobs and medical appointments, but is far beyond the point where she can care for him (and he absolutely cannot live with her).
I am sure he is dealing with untreated mental illness, and in fact you are witnessing the sole remaining shred of my sympathy toward him - I do want to help, but I also want to mitigate the damage to my grandmother and siblings. Should I be gathering info on homeless shelters? He is not quite old enough to apply for Social Security, but will be in the next few years (provided he's paid anything into it, and I don't believe he ever has). Are there programs available to homeless seniors, specifically? Rehab? Jobs he may be qualified for that provide housing? Long term camping? Any leads are very much appreciated.
My dad has been homeless off and on for about 30 years. He is an expert couchsurfer. He is an alcoholic, and is very manipulative - borrows money and moves himself in with anyone who allows it. He has no experience with shelters or dealing with the "system" - he has worked as a carpenter, paid under the table, his entire life and has been struggling as he ages out of the workforce. I have siblings who are much younger than I am and more vulnerable to his manipulations - I went no contact with him for 10 years until his dad died and keep a strong distance between us. I do, however, pay for his phone, which was stolen yesterday when he was asleep under a bush near a job site.
I don't know if he's ever paid into social security, he hasn't had a driver's license in almost twenty years, and I don't really know where to start to do my own research for what is available for him in the Wildomar/Elsinore/Temecula area of Southern California. He may have briefly had Medicare a couple years ago.
He lived with a relative and a friend for the past few years, rent-free, which predictably didn't end well. When it did end, he immediately started hitting up my siblings for a place to stay, which burned up any good will he'd earned during his brief period of stability, where a "visit" to see grandkids was in all actuality a real visit, where he paid his own way and left after a short duration. Recently he attempted another visit which cost my siblings several hundred dollars (that they can not afford) and which ended when I stepped in and had one of them buy him a bus pass back to the Wildomar area. My grandmother lives there and drives him to jobs and medical appointments, but is far beyond the point where she can care for him (and he absolutely cannot live with her).
I am sure he is dealing with untreated mental illness, and in fact you are witnessing the sole remaining shred of my sympathy toward him - I do want to help, but I also want to mitigate the damage to my grandmother and siblings. Should I be gathering info on homeless shelters? He is not quite old enough to apply for Social Security, but will be in the next few years (provided he's paid anything into it, and I don't believe he ever has). Are there programs available to homeless seniors, specifically? Rehab? Jobs he may be qualified for that provide housing? Long term camping? Any leads are very much appreciated.
You don't mention if your father was ever married. Even if he never paid into social security at all, if he was married for at least 10 years he'd be able to collect based on his spouse's income. "You can get benefits based on the earnings of your spouse or ex-spouse (if you were married for at least 10 years). These spousal benefits are equal to half of your spouse's or ex-spouse's full benefits and collecting them won't affect your spouse or ex-spouse's benefits at all. " Not sure what the minimum age is, there. The regular minimum age to collect is 62.
posted by clone boulevard at 7:46 AM on February 20, 2018
posted by clone boulevard at 7:46 AM on February 20, 2018
First thing he needs to enter into any subsidized housing is a valid CA ID.
Subsidized senior housing starts at 62, and generally has long wait-lists.
Riverside County doesn't have a ton of homeless services, but also has a smallish homeless population. If he's charming, he may get a case manager who is willing to help him find affordable housing.
A lot of homeless seniors on fixed incomes use RVs to live in. You can get an old one pretty cheap, and desert areas tend to have enough open space that he may be able to park it free of charge, as long as he can maintain it mechanically and avoid parking tix.
These are not good solutions, but they may be the only palatable/possible ones.
posted by johngumbo at 3:32 PM on February 20, 2018
Subsidized senior housing starts at 62, and generally has long wait-lists.
Riverside County doesn't have a ton of homeless services, but also has a smallish homeless population. If he's charming, he may get a case manager who is willing to help him find affordable housing.
A lot of homeless seniors on fixed incomes use RVs to live in. You can get an old one pretty cheap, and desert areas tend to have enough open space that he may be able to park it free of charge, as long as he can maintain it mechanically and avoid parking tix.
These are not good solutions, but they may be the only palatable/possible ones.
posted by johngumbo at 3:32 PM on February 20, 2018
I’m would ask around at local Catholic and Episcopal churches. They’ll at least know whom you should talk to. And they may be able to help.
posted by persona au gratin at 2:29 AM on February 21, 2018
posted by persona au gratin at 2:29 AM on February 21, 2018
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posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:25 AM on February 20, 2018