Agrowing number of seniors are dealing with homelessness, but their struggle is largely unseen. Living out of cars, sleeping on couches, or relying on friends and family, seniors on fixed incomes have increasingly slipped into “hidden homelessness” as housing costs rise and personal safety nets disappear.
In 2024, 82 seniors were served through Huntington Beach’s Navigation Center, according to city staff. While that figure reflects only those who entered the center, it highlights a growing challenge city leaders, social workers, and volunteers are addressing through a coordinated, hands-on approach.
The Navigation Center is “so much more than a place to sleep,” said Jessica Kelley, the city’s homeless and behavioral health manager. Guests receive meals, access to hygiene facilities and one-on-one support from trained housing workers who help identify and overcome barriers to securing permanent housing…