We Help Seniors was established to help disadvantaged senior citizens. Millions of Americans who are fifty and over are struggling to make ends meet. Poor adults aged 65 and older face tremendous burdens meeting basic expenses for health care, housing, food, and other necessities out of income. The official poverty measure published by the United States Census Bureau shows that in 2011, there were
46.2 million people in poverty. More than 10 million Americans age 50 and older lived in poverty. About 6.5 million people were ages 50-64, and 3.6 million were 65 and older. The situation is particularly dire in California, due to the high cost of health care and housing. About 20% of California's seniors- compared to 15% nationally- live below the poverty threshold when taking health care expenses into account, according to the Kaiser foundation study. The number of impoverished residents age 65 and older increased by 85%, to roughly 520,000, between 1999 and 2014, more than double the rate of population growth among the elderly. To help with the seniors' growing problems with affording basic needs (health care, housing, food), We Help Seniors will develop and maintain programs that offer direct assistance, education, and other benefits for needy seniors. Programs being developed include Health Cost Relief for Seniors, Housing Assistance for Seniors, Food for Needy Seniors, and Life Enrichment for Seniors. WHS is seeking business affiliates, donors and volunteers to help with the implementation of planned programs. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
