California Black Media

Assembly Select Committee on Happiness Releases Its Final Report

Happy people have better general health and tend to live longer enjoying employment, economic, and personal benefits, according to a report on happiness by California’s Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy Outcomes.

Published

3 months ago

September 29, 2024

Oakland Post

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By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Happy people have better general health and tend to live longer enjoying employment, economic, and personal benefits, according to a report on happiness by California’s Select Committee on Happiness and Public Policy Outcomes.

The committee revealed that the negative impact of unhappiness and its related factors is severe. The report showed that happier people are healthier compared to unhappy people who struggle with behavioral health issues.

Susan DeMarois, director of the California Department of Aging, testified to the committee that loneliness has damaging health outcomes for senior residents.

“A significant driver in the epidemic of older adult behavioral health issues is loneliness,” said DeMarois. “Loneliness has such far-reaching consequences that the health impact is comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.”

According to surveys conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) in 1998 and 2023, happiness for people in California has decreased significantly by almost half in the last 25 years.

The survey showed that fewer residents are “very happy,” 28% of residents were happy in 1998 as opposed to 16% in 2023.

Survey results indicated that more people said they were “not too happy,” 13% of people admitted to being unhappy in 1998 compared to 26% in 2023. A major concern for the committee is that the number of unhappy people has doubled in the last quarter century.

Other survey polls by Gallup showed that coastal residents were more likely to be happy than their inland counterparts.

Given the recent survey results, the committee urged the state to adopt a creative and collaborative approach to improving happiness among residents. Survey polls verified that public trust in the state government is at a historic low. The report recommends lawmakers develop policies that help create trust between residents and the state government.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

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Oakland Post: Week of December 11 – 17, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 11 – 17, 2024

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California Takes Steps to Address Rising Homelessness Among Aging Adults

The lack of accessible and available housing, health-related behaviors, medical problems, social isolation, and limited resources are some of the root causes of homelessness and poverty among aging Californians. Speaking on own her behalf — not representing CCoA — Brown said more alternatives for affordable housing and services would provide a much-needed safety net for older adults in the state.

Published

2 weeks ago

December 8, 2024

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Shutterstock. Los Angeles, CA. USA: 2024 August 01: Homeless, unhoused people living in an encampment, temporary shelters and tents on the sidewalk.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌, California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

The California Commission on Aging (CCoA) has published a Housing Policy Brief that offers recommendations for reducing housing insecurity and homelessness among older adults in California.

The brief summarizes a more in-depth report titled “Housing Those Hardest Hit: Addressing Older Adult Homelessness.” It also includes seven actionable recommendations to mitigate older adult homelessness in three settings: permanent housing, independent housing, and assisted living.

“Expanding housing capacity across all settings in the older adult continuum of care is critical as our state confronts the pressing issues of housing insecurity and homelessness among older adults,” stated CCoA Executive Director Karol Swartzlander.

“The need is urgent, and the time to act is now,” she emphasized.

The CCoA serves as the principal advocating body for older Californians, and it administers programs that support and celebrate Californians as they age. In addition, the CCoA advises the Governor and Legislature, along with state, federal, and local agencies on programs and services that affect older adults in the state.

From 2017 to 2022, the number of adults aged 55-64 who accessed homelessness services across California increased by over 90%, while the number of adults over 65 in the state, overall, increased by over 166% – exceeding any other age group, according to the report.

According to CCoa, the commission blends housing solutions within a comprehensive continuum of care, presenting policymakers with targeted strategies that accommodate the diverse housing and supportive service needs of older adults.

Efforts to address homelessness is now one of CCoA’s top priorities, says Swartzlander.

“The need is urgent, and the time to act is now,” she added.

In 1990, 11% of the homeless population was over the age of 50 while in 2023 older adults represented nearly half of the state’s homeless population. Among this population, 41% first experienced homelessness after the age of 50.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s annual Point-in-Time Count, 38,028 adults aged 55 and older experienced homelessness in California in 2023. Furthermore, the report stated that 41% first experienced homelessness after the age of 50.

Former Assemblymember Cheryl Brown (D-San Bernardino), who just completed a six-year term as chairperson of the CCoA, said there must be policies in place to “remedy the problem” of older adults becoming homeless in the state.

“We need to go back to square one and come up with some policies that would help older adults have options,” Brown said. “It’s a tragedy that these people have paid into the system (taxes, social security), and did it the right way, and they still need these services.”

In the policy brief, the CCoA presents seven recommendations to mitigate aging adult homelessness. They are exploring a statewide subsidy for older adults at-risk of homelessness; developing a state homeshare program; expanding ministerial approval for smaller assisted living facilities; reforming housing laws; expanding assisted living waivers; and funding community care suggestions.

Editorial Note: California Black Media will follow up this article with more investigations into the lived experiences of older adults impacted by the of homelessness and housing insecurity crisis in the state.