If you’re a caregiver or family member looking for housing help for an older adult in Inglewood or elsewhere in Los Angeles County, pack your patience. Older adults are the fastest-growing group of people experiencing homelessness, according to a 2023 federal Department of Health and Human Services report.
After weeks of making calls, following referrals and speaking with organizations that serve older adults and people experiencing homelessness, I’ve put together this guide to help you understand where to turn, what to expect and how to navigate the process.
What seniors and families should know
Knowing which organization to contact is only the beginning. Finding the right person within that organization to help you is another challenge.
A few tips:
- Sign up fast — If you see a program that offers any kind of financial help, sign up immediately. These programs open and close quickly.
- Consider a senior living placement counselor — There is generally no fee to use these services, and depending on your financial situation, they may be able to speed up placement.
- Get help navigating the process — For seniors on fixed incomes or facing other challenges, finding housing can be especially difficult. Social workers, case managers, health care professionals, caregivers and other trusted advocates can help explain options, complete applications, make referrals and follow up with providers.
- For seniors in urgent need — You should call Adult Protective Services at 1-877-477-3646. APS can step in when an older adult may be at risk or unable to safely manage their circumstances.
There may not be one door. The key is knowing which door to knock on next and having someone who can help you find the way forward.
Start with 211
Phone: Dial 211 or call 1-800-339-6993
211 LA is open 24/7 and can help callers find community resources and make referrals based on their needs. Seniors, caregivers and family members should explain that they are calling about an older adult facing housing instability, then ask specifically what programs or referrals are available.
What to expect: You might be told there are no housing programs designed just for seniors. Instead, 211 will refer you to organizations that may be able to help or offer further guidance.
Before you call: Have the senior’s ZIP code, age, monthly income and its source, household size, any health or mobility needs and current housing situation — like are they behind on rent, facing eviction or already without housing. Keep a pen and paper handy to write down every referral.
City of Inglewood
Phone: 310-412-5111
Seniors facing a housing crisis in Inglewood should start by calling the city. Be sure to say you are calling about a senior, and be prepared to be transferred, possibly more than once.
What to expect: You may be referred to other city departments, websites or lists of senior apartments that you’ll need to contact directly about availability. You may also be told the city has nothing available or that its list is closed.
Waitlists are normal. Ask whether you can sign up for notifications when programs such as Section 8 — which offers affordable housing vouchers to very low income families — reopen its waiting lists or begin accepting applications. When a program reopens, apply as soon as possible. Even when a long wait is expected, openings can come up sooner than anticipated.
Inglewood Senior Center
Phone: 310-412-5338
The center does not have a program specifically for seniors experiencing homelessness. However, a social worker and a nurse are available on site the first Thursday of each month at 11 a.m., and seniors 60 and older can come in and ask about housing resources.
What to expect: The center offers activities and services for adults 50 and older, including exercise programs, lectures, transportation, congregate meals, home-delivered meals, care management, information and referrals. The senior center no longer distributes lists of affordable senior apartments. To obtain a list, visit City Hall or its website.
Inglewood Housing Authority
Phone: 310-412-5221
The city has no housing programs specifically for seniors. But Inglewood has a number of low-income senior apartment buildings.
What to expect: Expect to do the follow-up and legwork yourself. Be patient; you may also be told there is nothing available or that the list is closed. Most of the apartments have long waitlists. Sign up — you never know how fast it will move. When you can, visit in person.
Catholic Charities: St. Margaret’s Center
Phone: 310-672-2208
Catholic Charities has multiple locations, and services vary by location. St. Margaret’s Center’s online information mentions rental assistance and affordable housing, but when I contacted the center, I was told those services are not specifically for seniors. Seniors apply through the same process as everyone else.
What to expect: For homeless services case management, listen for the case management option on the phone menu. The center requires a referral through Los Angeles County’s standardized Coordinated Entry System, which can be completed online or in person on Mondays from 9 a.m. to noon.
Horizon Recuperative Care
Phone: 323-676-1000
Horizon has multiple locations serving different populations, and it accepts seniors as well as people of other ages.
What to expect: Access requires a referral from a doctor, social worker or community hospital, and a person must have a medical condition to qualify.
Once enrolled, participants may have access to housing managers and social workers who can help with short- or long-term housing. Longer-term placement is generally the goal, but it depends on availability. When housing isn’t immediately available, a shelter may be offered or requested.
Recuperative care, shelter and housing: What’s the difference?
Recuperative care — also called medical respite — is a short-term place for people experiencing homelessness to recover after a hospital stay. It’s for people discharged from an inpatient hospital setting and includes on-site medical and supportive services. A hospital, doctor or social worker usually makes the referral, and Medi-Cal health plans often cover it. More info here.
Emergency shelter or interim housing is a temporary bed while someone works toward a permanent home. Interim housing often serves as a first step for people moving from the street to permanent housing. Rooms may be shared or private, and stays are time-limited. More info here.
Long-term housing is the goal. It includes:
- Income-restricted senior apartments, which usually have waitlists
- Housing vouchers such as Section 8
- Permanent supportive housing, which provides social services and care coordination with no time limit, and links every resident to a housing subsidy. More info here.
Openings depend on availability, which is why you’ll hear about waitlists so often.
Bottom line: Recuperative care and shelters can buy time, but they don’t replace a long-term housing application. Get on waitlists early, even while someone is in a temporary placement.
WISE & Healthy Aging
Phone: 310-394-9871
Based in Santa Monica, WISE & Healthy Aging serves seniors throughout Los Angeles. Its focus is helping seniors stay safely and independently in their homes through case management and other services.
What to expect: Seniors and their families should expect to work with a case manager or social worker, who may do an in-home assessment to understand the person’s needs and identify resources that support aging in place.
The Salvation Army
Phone: 323-263-1206
Many people know the Salvation Army for its thrift stores and donation centers, but its services extend far beyond that.
What to expect: It offers emergency shelter and other programs to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Depending on availability and eligibility, assistance may also include help with rent and utility bills.
It’s worth checking the website to view its full range of services. If you find a program that meets your needs, contact the provider promptly to learn about the eligibility requirements and application process. Since not all programs serve every area, be sure to confirm that services are available in your community.
