As Colorado’s population rapidly ages, a growing number of seniors are finding themselves without homes. The number of residents aged 65 and older seeking homeless services in metro Denver has jumped 15% since last year, exposing a deepening humanitarian crisis. Service providers warn they are struggling to keep up with the rising demand, as health struggles, unaffordable housing, and economic vulnerability converge to push thousands into homelessness.
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A Life Upended by Loss
For 70-year-old Pamela Marin, homelessness was unthinkable until tragedy struck. After her husband’s death in 2020, Marin says she fell into “severe grief,” eventually losing her home after being scammed out of $60,000—the inheritance her husband left behind. With nowhere to turn, she spent months couch-surfing before living in her Ford Explorer for nearly a year. “People don’t understand how hard it is for people when they don’t intentionally lose their house,” Marin told The Colorado Sun. “It’s circumstances that usually are beyond their control.”
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Seniors on the Streets
Marin’s story mirrors that of many older Coloradans. According to the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI), 1,902 people aged 65 and above accessed homeless services in 2024, up from 1,643 in 2023. Nationally, the U.S. recorded more than 42,000 homeless seniors last year—a 6.1% rise. The state’s elderly population has ballooned by 58% over the past decade, making Colorado the third-fastest aging state in the nation.
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The Burden of Aging
Experts say older adults face homelessness for many of the same reasons as the general population—soaring rents, health problems, and dwindling resources, but their challenges are compounded by high medical costs and limited senior care. “As Coloradans live longer, stable and affordable housing has never been more important,” said Jason Johnson, MDHI’s executive director.
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Statewide Struggle Deepens
The MDHI’s first-ever statewide State of Homelessness report shows that more than 3,100 seniors accessed homeless services in 2024. The Denver area had the largest number, but regions like Pikes Peak and the Balance of State recorded higher proportions of elderly homelessness. “Many are just one rent increase or medical bill away from losing their home,” Johnson warned. “At the same time, there’s a major shortage of affordable assisted living, nursing facilities, and long-term care options.”
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Family Ties Broken
For Marin, the trauma of losing her home was compounded by estrangement from her children. After revealing she had been scammed, her children accused her of being “cuckoo and crazy.” Even her beloved Chihuahua, Patron, became a point of contention. “I was hurt. I was stunned,” she said. “It just shocked me, because I thought I taught them better.” Eventually, Marin found refuge at a Volunteers of America shelter and later transitioned to a tiny home at the Colorado Village Collaborative’s Monroe Village, where she’s rebuilding her life.
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A Fragile Recovery
Now, Marin is regaining her footing through programs at The Delores Project, which offers shelter and life skills classes to women, transgender, and nonbinary individuals. Her favorite, the Peace Education Program, focuses on emotional healing. She says her relationship with her children is improving; she reunited with them this past Mother’s Day for the first time in five years. “It gives me hope,” she said, noting she may soon meet her great-grandchild for the first time.
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Policy Battles and Uncertain Futures
Experts fear that without urgent government action, senior homelessness will worsen. The Trump administration’s efforts to restrict homelessness funding, by limiting diversity initiatives and capping permanent supportive housing spending, have been blocked by courts but remain concerning. “Instead of helping communities end homelessness, HUD is actively fueling its growth with these decisions,” said Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Cuts to Medicaid could further endanger seniors, as 27% of those in assisted living rely on it.
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A Race Against Time
Despite grim prospects, local churches and private developers are racing to build more affordable housing. The Church of All Saints and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church are constructing senior apartments, while private firms like MGL Partners have opened new income-restricted complexes such as St. Stephen Senior Apartments in Denver. But Marin says help isn’t coming fast enough. “Without the right people in the right places, you can’t get that,” she said. “The Dolores Project and Colorado Coalition are trying, but homelessness is so large that there are just not enough people to help.”