House Committee on Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) has asked the Government Accountability Office to review “the aging population in America, their risks of experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness, and federal programs that target older Americans and help prevent homelessness.”

The request to GAO seeks information to address Chairwoman Waters’ concerns that a “growing population of older adults live in poverty or grow old in shelters or on the street, which may have major implications for local and national housing, health care, and other social service infrastructures as they age.”

“I am writing to request a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review of the aging population in America, their risks of experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness, and federal programs that target older Americans and help prevent homelessness,” the letter states. “I also request that this review identify any racial and ethnic disparities across the aging population and how federal programs address such disparities. Such a study is necessary to help our country prepare for demographic shifts and ensure that programs and services are able to meet the needs of this vulnerable group.”

Specifically, Chairwoman Waters asks that the GAO’s study include demographic information on older adults experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness, what federal program target assistance to address and prevent homelessness among older adults, and promising practices. The letter also asks the GAO to address racial disparities among older adults experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness.

LeadingAge has long urged HUD and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness to improve its data collection and analysis of older adults experiencing homelessness. HUD’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) report to Congress, which provides nationwide estimates of homelessness, comes in two parts. “Part 1” of the report, which provides one-night estimates of sheltered and unsheltered homelessness at the state, local, and national levels, only has three age categories: Under 18, 18 – 24, and Over 24. “Part 2” of the report, which provides a national estimate of people who utilized shelter programs at some point during the year, does include data for age groups 55 – 64 and 65 and above.

Read the August 2 letter here.