Arcata House Partnership Hosts Film Screening of, "No Place to Grow Old".

Arcata House Partnership is hosting a free screening of the important documentary “No Place To Grow Old”, an intimate portrait of the rising crisis of senior homelessness in Portland, Oregon. This film explores the systemic challenges and deeply personal stories of a generation aging into homelessness. This documentary is directed by Davey Schaupp and produced by Humans for Housing. We’re so excited to partner with them on the showing of this important film, and hope that it starts a vital dialogue locally, right here in Humboldt County.   

Here in Humboldt County, we are also seeing this same heartbreaking trend: our older neighbors are increasingly being pushed into homelessness. Currently, adults aged 50 and older are the fastest-growing unhoused demographic, representing roughly 40% to 48% of the adult-only homeless population in California. Many seniors living on fixed incomes are finding it impossible to keep up with persistent inflation, skyrocketing rents, and a severe shortage of local affordable housing. Daily essentials are also becoming harder and harder to afford for many. In California, the average monthly grocery bill for one person ranges from $322 to $434 - a cost that current food stamp benefits simply cannot cover in today's economy.

Older adults aging into homelessness is a rapidly emerging issue; with approximately 1 in 3 renters over age 50 severely cost-burdened, by spending over 50% of their income on housing.  As such, nearly 1 in 4 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness are over the age of 55, with 46,000 such individuals in California, where 66% of the unhoused population is unsheltered.

Beyond financial hurdles, the "digital divide" remains a significant barrier. Our AHP outreach teams have observed many older clients struggling as society shifts toward a paperless, online-only model. With fewer in-person service centers, reduced staffing, and long wait times on phone lines, navigating essential services has become increasingly difficult for those who aren't tech-savvy.

Finally, healthcare challenges continue to mount. Recent Medicare funding cuts and limited access to care are compounded by the rising costs of prescriptions, insurance, and durable medical equipment and much more. For many in our community, these mounting expenses aren't just a hardship; they are a threat to their very stability. In early 2022, roughly 2 calls per day to the local 2-1-1 Humboldt service, were from older adults specifically seeking shelter, and as of 2024, roughly 76% of Humboldt's unhoused population was unsheltered. Older adults in these situations are 25 times more likely to suffer from concurrent physical, mental, and substance use conditions. 

We invite you to join us on April 29th, 2026, from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM, at the Arcata Playhouse for this important film screening and conversation. There is no cost for this event and tickets are not required. Thank you for your support & we hope to see you there!