California Homeless Seniors Total 37,460 in 2026
State data show the count of homeless older adults has fallen from its 2025 peak but remains above 2021 levels.
Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in Eldercare
Live Poll
Do you think housing for older adults in your area is getting worse?
California recorded 37,460 homeless seniors in 2026, down from 49,471 in 2025 and up from 34,833 in 2021. The California Commission on Aging plans to release a report in December on gaps in the state's housing and homelessness services.
Why it matters
Lack of income is the main cause of homelessness for adults 65 and older, and many older adults have limited savings, no pension and no home ownership. A single medical emergency can end their ability to earn income, leaving them with few options for stable housing across California.
California recorded 37,460 homeless seniors in 2026, compared with 49,471 in 2025 and 34,833 in 2021, according to state open data. The source does not explain what drove the change between 2025 and 2026.
The players
California Commission on Aging
A state body that advises on policies affecting older Californians and is preparing a December report on gaps in housing and homelessness services.
The details
Nearly 40% of homeless adults were at least 50 years old in 2022-23, and older adults are not currently prioritized in California's coordinated entry system. California's taxpayers spent $128 million in general fund money in 2025-26 on the Home Safe Program and the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program, which help keep older adults housed statewide.
Timeline
2021: California recorded 34,833 homeless seniors.
2022-23: Nearly 40% of homeless adults were at least 50 years old.
2025: The homeless senior count reached 49,471.
2025-26: The state spent $128 million on Home Safe and disability housing programs.
2026: The homeless senior count fell to 37,460.
Eldercare Landscape
The $128 million spent through the Home Safe Program and the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program in 2025-26 is the state's current funding response to a senior homeless count that rose from 34,833 in 2021 to 49,471 in 2025. The 2026 drop to 37,460 comes as advocates push to prioritize older adults in the coordinated entry system.
Older adults facing a medical emergency or loss of income may qualify for state-funded housing help through the Home Safe Program and the Housing and Disability Advocacy Program. Because older adults are not currently prioritized in the coordinated entry system, those seeking housing assistance may face longer waits.
The takeaway
Older adults with limited savings and no pension are especially vulnerable to losing housing after a single health setback, so planning ahead for income gaps can help protect stable housing later in life.
What happens next
The California Commission on Aging plans to release a report in December identifying gaps in the state's housing and homelessness services system.
Further reading
For related coverage, see the Eldercare section on senior housing and support services.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The San Joaquin Valley Sun.
Live Poll
Do you think housing for older adults in your area is getting worse?
