In the US, more over 50s being pushed onto the streets

Finocchio, 55, is one face of America's graying homeless population, a rapidly expanding group of destitute and desperate people 50 and older suddenly without a permanent home after a job loss, divorce, family death or health crisis during a pandemic. Photos:AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Karla Finocchio's slide into homelessness began when she split with her partner of 18 years and temporarily moved in with a cousin.

The 55-year-old planned to use her US$800-a-month (RM3,356) disability check to get an apartment after back surgery. But she soon was sleeping in her old pickup protected by her German Shepherd mix Scrappy, unable to afford housing in Phoenix, where median monthly rents soared 33% during the coronavirus pandemic to over US$1,220 (RM5,148) for a one-bedroom, according to ApartmentList.com.