California’s Safe Home Program Keeps 94% of Vulnerable Seniors at Home—Can Other States Copy It?

Seniors over the age of 50 are now the fastest growing segment of the homeless population in the United States, a trend researchers attribute to rising housing costs, stagnant incomes, and an aging population. These changing demographics have prompted policymakers to explore prevention strategies that keep at-risk adults alive before they reach a critical stage.

Fixed incomes, rising taxes, financial abuse, medical emergencies, and the loss of a spouse can push vulnerable seniors to the brink of losing their homes. While much of the nation’s response has focused on helping people after homelessness, California’s plan suggests there may be a more effective approach: preventing homelessness before it starts.

A recent evaluation of California’s Home Safe Program found that 93.9% of participants who entered the already-demolished program were still being housed when they left. The researchers concluded that Home Safe shows how “flexible, person-centered interventions” can stabilize housing before homelessness occurs, especially for older adults who often fall outside traditional homelessness programs. Here’s what homelessness prevention could look like across the country, given this success.

Home Safe Focuses on Prevention Rather than Disaster Response

California established the Home Security Program in 2018 through the California Department of Community Services. Today, Home Safe operates in all 58 California counties, allowing local Elder Protective Services agencies to tailor interventions to the needs of their communities.

Rather than waiting until older adults lose their homes, this program identifies individuals who are already involved in Adult Protective Services (APS) and are facing or at imminent risk of homelessness. Researchers have noted that preventing evictions through temporary financial assistance or landlord mediation is often much less expensive than emergency shelter, repeated hospitalizations, or long-term supportive housing. They also found that Home Safe preserved affordable housing naturally by preventing evictions from rent-controlled units, allowing many participants to stay in homes they might otherwise lose forever.

Eligible participants receive one-on-one assistance designed to stabilize their homes before a problem arises. Services may include case management, landlord mediation, emergency financial assistance, eviction prevention, housing navigation, and other support. Researchers found that this fast-track approach filled a critical gap that many traditional homelessness programs had neglected.

Housing Effects were Remarkably Strong

A study conducted by the UCSF Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative assessed the implementation of Home Safe across the country between 2022 and 2025. Among participants who were already housed when they entered the program, 93.9% remained homeless when services ended.

Of the people who entered the program who were experiencing homelessness, 58.4% had found housing when they left. The researchers interpreted these results as evidence that adaptive homelessness prevention strategies can produce meaningful results for vulnerable older adults and older adults with disabilities. They also note that preventing homelessness is often less disruptive (and may be less expensive) than dealing with it after someone has lost stable housing.

Flexible Funding Was One of the Great Strengths of the Program

Unlike many narrowly defined assistance programs, Home Safe allows local agencies to be flexible in responding to the needs of each participant. Some clients need help paying overdue rent, while others benefit greatly from landlord mediation, deep cleaning services, transportation assistance, or complex case management.

Districts can plan interventions based on local housing markets and individual circumstances rather than following a rigid one-size-fits-all model. In some cases, a relatively small intervention, such as paying a few months of overdue rent or fixing unsafe living conditions, was enough to prevent an older adult from losing stable housing.

The testers identified this flexibility as one of the main reasons for the program’s success. Local providers have reported that being able to act quickly often prevents housing problems from escalating into homelessness.

This program helps older adults who often miss out on other programs

Researchers report that the number of Americans age 65 and older experiencing homelessness will continue to rise in the coming years as housing challenges and demographic changes combine. This is where Home Safe comes in.

Home Safe reached many older adults who were never homeless but lost their homes due to abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, serious illness, or the death of a spouse. Because Senior Citizens Security staff often come into contact with people in times of crisis, they are able to identify housing instability early and intervene before evictions or evictions occur.

Improved Safe Home Communication Between Companies

Another benefit extends beyond individual housing outcomes. The evaluation found that Home Safe strengthened relationships between Elder Protective Services agencies, homeless service providers, health care organizations, and community partners. Historically, these systems often operated independently with limited communication. Home Safe has encouraged greater collaboration, making it easier for agencies to coordinate services and share expertise. The researchers described this increased communication as one of the lasting structural benefits that may continue to improve service delivery even beyond individual problems.

Housing Affordability Still the Biggest Challenge

Despite its positive effects, Home Safe cannot solve all housing problems. The researchers emphasized that even the most effective prevention programs cannot compensate for the severe shortage of affordable housing, making continued investment in both housing provision and prevention services critical.

Even with financial assistance and case management, some participants find it difficult to find affordable units due to tight housing markets. Program staff also cited financial uncertainty as an obstacle to long-term planning. The report recommends continued investment in affordable housing and prevention programs if communities hope to achieve lasting reductions in homelessness.

Prevention May Be the Future of Housing Sustainability

The California Home Safe Program shows that preventing homelessness can produce measurable results when communities intervene early. Keeping 93.9% of participants already living in stable housing highlights the value of flexible support, personalized services, and strong local relationships.

While the lack of affordable housing remains a major challenge, evaluations suggest that limited interventions can prevent many of the housing crisis from becoming long-term homeless. As the number of seniors facing housing insecurity continues to grow across the country, programs focused on prevention may become a more important part of the national conversation.

If other states can’t replicate California’s results, the future of homelessness policy may focus more on keeping people housed instead of helping them recover after housing is lost.

Do you think communities should invest more in preventing homelessness before it starts? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

What to Read Next

HHS Releases $1.1 Billion in Older Americans Act Grants—Grants Include Nutrition, Care and Abuse Prevention

Congress Extends Medicare Telehealth Through 2027 as CONNECT for Health Act Pushes Permanent Reform

New Jersey’s Big Life Pilot Offers Up to $250K in Grants to Fight Isolation—How Local Groups Can Work