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Senior Commission raises concerns about homelessness, vouchers and fractured services
Summary
Commissioners discussed a Social Services Commission homelessness report, rising risk of homelessness among older adults, long waiting lists for affordable units, closed Section 8 applications and the need for coordinated wraparound services and advocacy.
Members of the Davis Senior Commission spent an extended portion of the meeting discussing unmet needs for seniors, focusing on affordable housing, homelessness and gaps in service coordination.
Commissioners noted research and local observations that older adults are increasingly represented among people experiencing homelessness. One commissioner told the group that "older adults are the fastest growing population of homelessness" and cited a large percentage increase in the 65-and-older age group between 2017 and 2022 (presentation sources were described as reports the commissioner had used in classroom instruction).
Commissioners discussed a Social Services Commission report on homelessness and housing that some said omitted Davis-specific older-adult details. The city staff member present said the Social Services Commission led the report process with consultant support and involvement from local providers and stakeholder groups.
Participants described long waits for affordable housing: commissioners said many low-income housing programs maintain long waiting lists and reported that Yolo County Housing had not opened new Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) applications for about two years. Commissioners highlighted multiple types of vouchers and voucher categories targeted to seniors or people with specific medical needs and asked staff to request data on how many vouchers are available for older adults.
Commissioners and community speakers emphasized gaps in wraparound services—mental health, substance-use treatment and on-site services at shelters—and said that advocacy (nonprofit or independent advocates who can help clients navigate programs) is lacking in Yolo County. Several speakers urged closer coordination between the Senior Commission and the Social Services Commission and suggested inviting Director Dana Bailey or county housing staff to a future meeting to brief commissioners on voucher counts, program eligibility and county coordination.
The commission agreed to continue the discussion at future meetings; staff said Agency on Aging Area 4, Legal Services of Northern California and other service providers will be invited to present in upcoming months.
