Dear Friends and Family of Catholic Charities

“I stayed, but I stayed in a not-very sanitary house where there were rats, there were cockroaches and other very unpleasant things.”

This was the environment 81-year-old Mariana a senior with various health issues, had to stay in to have a roof over her head. For her, this was the only option besides turning to a shelter for a place to sleep. An unhealthy environment for elder seniors is a story we are unfortunately very familiar with at Catholic Charities. Older generations who no longer can work are having difficulty finding housing while also struggling with various health concerns. In the city of San Diego, inflation has made it hard for people to find proper housing. In 2022 the average cost of rent was between $2,187 to $3,570. A range that is so difficult for people who are retired and living off a fixed income of social security to afford, just like in the case of Mariana.