Boomers age and housing

The last few weeks there has been one man who has shown up at the food pantry.
Pretty well dressed.
A ten year old car, that is immaculate.
First he came once a month,
then once a week and now every three days.

Our food pantry primarily cares for the working poor.
We have about 150 families in a month
who come to help get over the line from not enough to eating daily.
About a fifth are "poor life choices" people.
many take their lunch break to get the food.

And then there are the few elderly who are slowly showing up.
Mr W is 88. Mrs S is 69. Mr T is 72.
All live in a house/townhouse.
In our area the safe housing begins at $120,000.
They all have mortgages.
Mortgage is paid first, and then utilities, then food.
All have a cat or a dog.
All are single- widowed.
None have "family"around.
All are apologetic for even showing up, embarrassed.

The conversation among workers has been pretty negative about these older people.
"Looks like" they have money.
They should give up their animal.
Why don't they get public housing
(which you have to qualify for and has a five year wait).
They are taking from others who need it.

I am taking this article into the pantry tomorrow.
It is about housing and the elderly.
We are about to be hit with a whole new wave of elder poverty.
The surprising part is those people WERE middle class.
The scary part is that WE are a part of the age group.