Seniors in Poverty

Poverty has a negative impact on all age groups and demographics. However, for seniors, the lack of regular income, mounting medical bills and poor planning for retirement can plunge our most vulnerable population into deep poverty.

Working class seniors are likely to have been living in poverty – trapped over generations since childhood – with no means to escape. According to the Center for Community Solutions, data and research also suggest, Cleveland, our city has the third worst statistic for older adults living in poverty at 22%.

One of the most common ways poverty disproportionally affects older adults is through hunger. An alarming statistic suggests almost 1 in 12 seniors aged 60 and older – 5.5 million or 7.7% of the senior population didn’t have access to enough food in 2017, according to a study done by Feeding America.

While food insecurity is often associated with lack of income, this issue also transverses other basic needs, such as healthcare, housing and employment.