Track and target other large & special-needs populations
Older and disabled homeless make up a large--and often overlooked--segment of the "Single Adult" population. Many of the chronically homeless (and those who will stay homeless long enough to acquire that label) are in this group.
We have special programs and focus on Youth, on Families, and on Veterans, but we ignore the fact that a disabled 50 year old or a vulnerable 70 year old in poor health are NOT going to be served by the same employment programs and housing that might be appropriate for a 35 year old with low-paying job skills.
What's that old saying: if you don't measure it, it doesn't exist? Well, right now, seniors and disabled homeless "don't exist"...they're lumped in with others they have little in common with other than being adults.
This groups income will be limited, and remain so, therefore they will need subsidized housing long-term. Unlike the OTHER single adults and families who are younger, able-bodied, and much more likely to become self-sufficient at some point, this group will NOT be moving into market rate housing.
This groups needs--and the aging boomer homeless--must be planned for and accommodated. The first step is to recognize they exist.