The number of homeless living in the U.S. who are over the age of 50 has jumped recently, and now comprises 31 percent of the nation's total homeless population, according to the New York Times. This is creating "daunting challenges for social service agencies and governments already struggling with this crisis of poverty."
Vermont has a younger homeless population than the nation as a whole. In January 2016, 15.5 percent of the state's homeless were 55 or older, according to the point-in-time count conducted by area providers.