Recently I read an article about homeless people over the age of 50, and it was pretty striking to me. This article cited a study which found that just under half of all homeless people who are over 50 years old, became homeless for the first time after they were 50. The study is headed by a woman who works for UCSF, and this problem is especially visible in the Bay area, where housing costs have risen dramatically over the past decade. The problem often seems to stem from the issue of saving money, as well as society not having safety nets to catch people before they fall. A separate study projected that the elderly homeless population will nearly triple over the next decade, which is astounding to me. From the researchers eyes, the problem is often the same: A person works a low-wage job which barely allows them to get by, let alone save, into late middle age. Then, something may happen that impedes them from working, and its a quick fall into homelessness, because they dont have anything to fall back on. This issue has skyrocketed recently, as UCSF research indicates that in 1990, only 11 percent of the population was 50 or older, and now its 50 percent. Homeless people in their 50’s usually display health concerns of 70 year olds, which makes the issue that much worse. As a society we usually agree that children and seniors are the most vulnerable and need the most help, but we are not treating it that way, and it is starting to truly show.