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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
DECLARING THE MONTH OF FEBURARY AS HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS MONTH AMOUNG THE OLDER ADULT GRAY WAVE POPULATION IN COOK COUNTY
WHEREAS, homelessness among older adults, often referred to as the "Gray Wave", has emerged as one of the fastest-growing and most urgent housing crises in the United States, impacting individuals aged 60 and over who are increasingly experiencing homelessness for the first time later in life; and
WHEREAS, the term "Gray Wave" has been used nationally since the mid-to-late 2010s to describe the sharp rise in homelessness among aging adults, driven by structural economic factors rather than chronic instability; and
WHEREAS, homelessness serves as a direct catalyst for health deterioration among older adults, accelerating chronic disease progression, physical and cognitive decline, and mental health conditions, while increasing vulnerability to injury, exposure, and premature death; and
WHEREAS, homelessness among older adults constitutes a public health crisis, increasing reliance on emergency rooms, hospitals, and crisis care systems that are not designed to provide long-term stabilization or preventative health services; and
WHEREAS, homelessness in older adults significantly increases public costs, including emergency room utilization, hospital admissions, and long-term care expenditures, making housing stability and prevention strategies both fiscally responsible and humane; and
WHEREAS, older adults experiencing homelessness face heightened risks of chronic illness, disability, mental health challenges, and premature mortality, while encountering barriers to shelters and services not designed to accommodate age-related health and mobility needs; and
WHEREAS, contributing factors to older adult homelessness include rising housing costs that outpace fixed incomes, medical debt, late-life job loss, age discrimination, loss of a spouse, caregiving strain, and a severe shortage of affordable and accessible se...
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