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"In a 2020 journal article for the American Society on Aging, Kushel wrote that of all the homeless single adults in the early 1990s, 11% were aged 50 and older

"In a 2020 journal article for the American Society on Aging, Kushel wrote that of all the homeless single adults in the early 1990s, 11% were aged 50 and older. By 2003, she says that percentage grew to 37%." When I read something like this I have to ask—Where is the data for the past 20 years?

passwordoops 3y ago
A few possibilities come to mind -Funding for that project ended and likely not renewed because it wasn't novel enough -The authors moved on to other topics -Government agencies decided not to track that particular data
myshpa 3y ago
The quote you've posted is missing current numbers. We're now at 50%. "In a 2020 journal article for the American Society on Aging, Kushel wrote that of all the homeless single adults in the early 1990s, 11% were aged 50 and older. By 2003, she says that percentage grew to 37%. Now, the over-50 demographic represents half of the homeless single adults in the U.S. — with no sign of their numbers slowing, leaving baby boomers (those aged 57 to 75) particularly vulnerable."
- glimshe 3y ago
  Thank you - one thing that can be slightly misleading when reading this number is that 50% of the homeless adults are over 50. This doesn't mean (and you didn't say so) that 50% of the adults over 50 are homeless. It's not possible to know, by just reading this percentage, whether the homeless situation of older adults is getting better or worse in total numbers.
  - 3np 3y ago
    Further, those numbers alone could also be very good: it could just mean that less people get and will get homeless. That's of course not the case and the actual situation is not good, just sayin'. Good case of how you can spin statistics to tell a story.
- qznc 3y ago
  This metric is weird. Is it somehow better if “young” adults were homeless?
  - Ensorceled 3y ago
    No one is implying it's better or worse. It's important to know because it changes the problem ... if a lot of homeless people are elderly the solutions need to be different than if they are younger. For instance it's not "job training and introductions into the work force" if these people are past working age.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - rthomas6 3y ago
    I don't think that was implied, but yes! I'd rather be homeless at 20 than homeless at 70. Wouldn't you? At least I'd be less likely to die from a fall. At least I'd be more able to defend myself/run away.
- Scarblac 3y ago
  What percentage of adults in the US are over 50?
entuno 3y ago
And how much has the percentage of adults in the USA who are over 50 increased in that period?

passwordoops 3y ago

A few possibilities come to mind -Funding for that project ended and likely not renewed because it wasn't novel enough -The authors moved on to other topics -Government agencies decided not to track that particular data

myshpa 3y ago

The quote you've posted is missing current numbers. We're now at 50%. "In a 2020 journal article for the American Society on Aging, Kushel wrote that of all the homeless single adults in the early 1990s, 11% were aged 50 and older. By 2003, she says that percentage grew to 37%. Now, the over-50 demographic represents half of the homeless single adults in the U.S. — with no sign of their numbers slowing, leaving baby boomers (those aged 57 to 75) particularly vulnerable."

glimshe 3y ago
Thank you - one thing that can be slightly misleading when reading this number is that 50% of the homeless adults are over 50. This doesn't mean (and you didn't say so) that 50% of the adults over 50 are homeless. It's not possible to know, by just reading this percentage, whether the homeless situation of older adults is getting better or worse in total numbers.
- 3np 3y ago
  Further, those numbers alone could also be very good: it could just mean that less people get and will get homeless. That's of course not the case and the actual situation is not good, just sayin'. Good case of how you can spin statistics to tell a story.
qznc 3y ago
This metric is weird. Is it somehow better if “young” adults were homeless?
- Ensorceled 3y ago
  No one is implying it's better or worse. It's important to know because it changes the problem ... if a lot of homeless people are elderly the solutions need to be different than if they are younger. For instance it's not "job training and introductions into the work force" if these people are past working age.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- rthomas6 3y ago
  I don't think that was implied, but yes! I'd rather be homeless at 20 than homeless at 70. Wouldn't you? At least I'd be less likely to die from a fall. At least I'd be more able to defend myself/run away.
Scarblac 3y ago
What percentage of adults in the US are over 50?

entuno 3y ago

And how much has the percentage of adults in the USA who are over 50 increased in that period?