The number of Americans older than 65 will double in the next 40 years, reaching 80 million by 2040. Alongside this growth, many more older adults will need access to affordable and secure housing. UCSF BHHI’s research on aging focuses on California’s older population, the housing supply available to older adults, affordability issues, the connection between housing, health, and public services, and the residential patterns of older homeless adults.

The stress of experiencing homelessness can amplify previous mental illness and trigger anxiety, depression, fear, substance use, and sleeplessness.

In the United States, 30% of the homeless population are families with children, and 6% are unaccompanied youth younger than age 25.

The link between health and homelessness may frequently be overlooked. Homelessness worsens health, with homeless individuals in their 50s experiencing the same health concerns as their housed counterparts in their 70s and 80s. With medical care, recovery, and healing made more difficult by homelessness, it’s clear that housing is health care.

Prevention means stopping someone from becoming homeless in the first place. Homelessness prevention must include broader structural reforms addressing the drivers of homelessness, not only interventions targeted at individuals.

Housing instability is one of the most pressing policy issues in the United States currently, with traditional policy levers failing to create the change needed to provide affordable, safe housing for all populations. UCSF BHHI conducts wide-ranging research into housing and shelter through a strategic science and lived experience approach, collaborating with communities to pilot and test new practices. We bring them to scale while acting as a bridge between the methods to foster lasting, positive change.

The solution to homelessness is housing. Rehousing interventions to quickly connect people to housing and necessary services can help prevent and end homelessness. UCSF BHHI establishes evidence-based strategies and interventions to mitigate homelessness and housing instability. Our solutions address structural barriers that negatively impact the prevention and exiting of homelessness.

On any given night, more than half a million Americans are homeless; 58% of those experiencing homelessness are unsheltered.