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Bristol County is facing a critical humanitarian crisis: the “Silver Tsunami” of chronic homelessness among older adults (55+). With over 25% of the local unhoused population being seniors, these individuals are not just without shelter; they are managing complex, chronic health conditions — like diabetes and severe mobility issues — on the streets or in overwhelmed emergency shelters.
The core problem is a profound lack of medical respite beds and supportive housing. Traditional shelters cannot manage post-operative care or wound treatment, creating a devastating and costly cycle. Unhoused seniors discharged from local hospitals are highly likely to return within days due to preventable complications, leading to a revolving door of expensive emergency department visits and re-admissions.
The 2nd annual Pathways Home Summit in November, attended by over 100 advocates, affirmed the need for immediate, life-saving interventions alongside long-term housing solutions. The advocacy community calls on all local leaders and funders to implement three concrete actions now:
1. Establish coordinated regional shelter services strategy: Allocate resources for a coordinated regional emergency shelter services effort to support the basic needs of unhoused people. There are great organizations throughout the region doing great shelter work but at present, there is no dedicated individual, or office charged with implementing a unified, county-wide strategy, leading to duplication of effort and significant service gaps.
2. Fund medical respite care: Significantly increase funding for true medical respite centers. These specialized facilities will allow medically fragile seniors to safely recover from illness and injury, directly breaking the cycle of expensive hospital recidivism.
3. Expand community engagement: Increase the number of local partners hosting community meals and forums to provide essential nutrition and foster critical conversations about improving food and housing resources.
We deeply appreciate the community’s support, but the challenge now is to organize our efforts. We must expand services to meet unmet needs, reduce duplication, and facilitate better communication among all the dedicated helpers in Bristol County.
To get involved, please email info@riseupforhomes.com.
Carl Alves is the CEO of Positive Action Against Chemical Addiction and the founding member of the Rise Up for Homes Coalition and the Bristol County Continuum of Care.