Agrowing number of seniors are dealing with homelessness, but their struggle is largely unseen. Living out of cars, sleeping on couches, or relying on friends and family, seniors on fixed incomes have increasingly slipped into “hidden homelessness” as housing costs rise and personal safety nets disappear.
In 2024, 82 seniors were served through Huntington Beach’s Navigation Center, according to city staff. While that figure reflects only those who entered the center, it highlights a growing challenge city leaders, social workers, and volunteers are addressing through a coordinated, hands-on approach.
The Navigation Center is “so much more than a place to sleep,” said Jessica Kelley, the city’s homeless and behavioral health manager. Guests receive meals, access to hygiene facilities and one-on-one support from trained housing workers who help identify and overcome barriers to securing permanent housing.
Although the Navigation Center primarily serves Huntington Beach residents, the city also participates in a broader regional partnership that benefits neighboring communities, including Fountain Valley.
Since opening, city social workers have facilitated 619 shelter referrals, with some involving repeat contacts and 326 external referrals to family or domestic violence shelters. Police officers have also assisted in facilitating 145 shelter referrals.
To expand long-term housing options, Huntington Beach partnered with the County and Jamboree for the Pelican Harbor Senior PSH (permanent supportive housing) project at 18431 Beach Blvd in 2024. The four-story residential building offers 42 units of affordable housing, with a case manager and a supportive services coordinator on-site to meet the unique needs of senior residents.
The city’s Homeless Solutions Outreach line serves as another entry point, offering information and referrals. Seniors are connected to a wide range of services, including medical care through a mobile medical van, substance use and therapeutic programs, employment assistance, and veterinary services for pet owners.
Volunteer support strengthens these efforts. Huntington Beach Cares, the city’s volunteer-driven initiative, connects residents with individuals experiencing homelessness while also supporting seniors, veterans, and families throughout the community. Through food drives and outreach, volunteers help connect people to housing assistance, health support, and social services in partnership with city programs.
Kelley said that when she worked with a nonprofit serving children, she witnessed firsthand how housing insecurity forces families to navigate complex systems to survive. That experience inspired her to lead street-level outreach for vulnerable seniors.
“The City of Huntington Beach takes this issue extremely seriously and is committed to providing comprehensive, wrap-around support to protect and serve our senior community,” she said.
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