When Dawn was in her mid-forties, life took an unexpected turn. She was a stay-at-home mother of three, caring for her children and supporting her husband as he built his business.
“That didn’t give me time to go to school or search for a job because my job was in the home,” said Dawn.
A few years later, Dawn went through a divorce, and when her ex-husband passed away from cancer at 46, she was left to navigate life entirely on her own. With little work experience, she struggled to find employment that could sustain her.
Even after returning to school and earning a college degree, the now 60-year-old still faces barriers to steady work.
“I think employers look for a younger person,” she said. “People look at my walker and wonder how far I can walk, can I bend, can I turn? What happens if I fall? There’s no employer that’s going to want to deal with that.”
A Growing Challenge
Unfortunately, Dawn’s story is not unique. According to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, adults aged 50 and older are the fastest-growing age group within the homeless population in America. At Day By Day Shelter, the numbers tell a similar story — in 2025, one in four guests (25%) were age 55 or older.
For many older adults, homelessness isn’t caused by addiction or abuse — it’s the result of affordability. Those living on fixed incomes, such as Social Security or disability, simply can’t keep up with rising costs.
Rent in Winnebago County has nearly doubled in recent years; units that once cost $500–$600 per month now average $1,100–$1,200. With rising costs and limited income, older adults are forced to make impossible choices.
“So do they keep the car or their home? Do they keep paying for their medications or pay rent?” said Executive Director Molly. “They’re having to make very difficult decisions.”
When Stability Slips Away
For Anthony, those decisions led to homelessness in the spring of 2025 at the age of 62.
After being laid off from his long-time job at a steel manufacturing company, he found it nearly impossible to get to job interviews without reliable transportation.
“You can’t depend on buses and cabs,” he said. “The buses don’t run at certain times, or not at all. And cabs are too expensive—or they don’t come on time.”
Through Day By Day’s Guest Employment Program, Anthony now works up to fifteen hours a week at the shelter, saving for rent and a vehicle. His goal is to move into his own place within the next few months.
Finding Hope at Day By Day
Both Dawn and Anthony credit Day By Day for helping them rebuild their confidence and sense of purpose. The shelter has expanded its programming to better meet the needs of older adults—offering not just meals and a bed, but case management, community, and connection.
“They are what I would call the star students of the shelter,” said Molly. “They have that motivation to make a change. They take their appointments seriously, follow through, and we’ve really been able to move the needle with them because they’re so dedicated to getting out of their situation.”
🎥 Watch the Video Below!
See how Day By Day is helping older adults like Dawn, Anthony, and others rebuild their lives with dignity and compassion.
Hope Is Built on Compassion
At Day By Day, compassion is more than a value—it’s a way of life.
“When you can look at these people and see the caring in their faces every day—from the advocates to administration—it warms your heart,” said Dawn. “We wouldn’t be able to fight homelessness without them. It’s not about me, it’s not about them—it’s about helping us all get the resources we need to move forward.”
Molly agrees. “We just provide the care, empathy, and compassion that we can,” she said. “Because you know—that is somebody’s mother or father.”
Compassion Begins With You
At Day By Day, every guest success story is also a celebration of the donors who make our work possible. Without your support, many older adults in our community would have nowhere to turn.
Your year-end gift to Day By Day Shelter helps neighbors like Dawn and Anthony find stability, hope, and a path forward — one step at a time.
Give hope. Give compassion. Give today.
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