The Housing Crisis Facing Older Adults in Pima County
“Sleeping in my car during the Tucson summer nearly broke me. Thanks to PCOA, I have a safe place to live, my cat is back with me,
In Pima County, thousands of older adults are living on the edge. Housing costs keep going up but fixed incomes stay the same. This means more and more people are struggling to afford rent, pay their utility bills, and keep their homes safe. Today, over 60% of older renters in our community are considered “cost-burdened” —they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. That leaves little money for food, medicine, or transportation.
and I finally had the surgery I needed.”
— Jordan, age 75
In just one year, rents in Tucson jumped by more than 18%.
At the same time, the number of people over age 65 continues to grow. Since 2010, more than 5,900 older adults have been added to our community every year. In just one year, rents in Tucson jumped by more than 18% —faster than the national average—putting even more pressure on older adults with fixed incomes. For some, the challenge becomes a crisis. In last year’s count of people experiencing homelessness, 141 were aged 65 or older. Almost half were living
without any shelter at all. How PCOA Is Helping
At PCOA, we are working every day to prevent homelessness, support stability, and help older adults live safely in the places they call home.
THE STERLING
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SPECIAL EDITION - APRIL 2025
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