A Place to Call Home
When you meet Joel, it’s hard to imagine the hardship he’s endured.
At 62, Joel is outgoing, carefree, and optimistic. He owned a small landscaping business in Norfolk and worked hard to support himself and his wife. She managed their finances, and together they made ends meet. But problems with Joel’s shoulder and knee made it difficult for him to work. Financial trouble followed, and the couple eventually found themselves homeless. One cold night on the street, Joel’s wife died from exposure as he held her in his arms.
Joel on left, JaQuan on right
Joel made his way to a Norfolk shelter in the summer of 2025, where he met JaQuan, a Housing Specialist with Senior Services’ Homeless Older Adults (HOA) Program. Funded by federal and local grants and generous community support, the program provides case management, rental and security deposit assistance, and connection to vital social services.
The need is great in Hampton Roads. Seniors are the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population. Their age makes them especially susceptible to negative health outcomes while living on the street or in shelters. With one-bedroom apartments leasing for at least $1,300 a month, even “affordable” housing is out of reach for seniors living on limited incomes.
When Joel joined the program, JaQuan got to work immediately addressing the layered challenges of housing: locating an affordable apartment, finding a landlord willing to work with a client receiving financial assistance, and securing the documents needed for the client to apply for a lease. “Joel just kept saying, ‘Whatever you need,’” JaQuan recalls. “He was so positive, always upbeat.”
JaQuan found an apartment and a landlord open to learning about this grant-funded program and willing to consider Joel as a tenant. He worked with Joel to get his documents in order—many homeless older adults are missing I.D.s and benefits like Social Security and SNAP. After just four weeks of working with JaQuan, Joel moved into his new home.
He received furnishings donated by the Urban Renewal Center and a Welcome Home Basket with bedding, towels, paper products, and basic cookware donated by Senior Services. Because housing grants do not include funding for home goods, the HOA program relies on donations to create these baskets for newly housed seniors.
Now, Joel is focused on healing. His knee and shoulder trouble him, especially after sleeping on the ground for months. Surgery for his shoulder is scheduled for March. In time, Joel will likely be a candidate for permanent supportive housing. Meanwhile, JaQuan provides case management, checking in with Joel to make sure he remains stably housed.
Every donation to the Homeless Older Adults Program provides stability, safety, and dignity for seniors who have lost so much.
