50+ Generation Group

Bringing Open Access Participants 50+ Together


When Open Access Connections decided to host a listening session for participants over age 50, we were eager to learn about their concerns and their lives. 15 people attended the session – all of whom were struggling with day-to-day survival issues. Participants had an optimistic worldview despite their many hardships and had a community orientation rather than an individualistic orientation. They believed they have something to teach others but didn’t have forums to pass on their expertise or knowledge. They were basically invisible. Out of that listening session, we organized the 50+ group.

A majority of the original 15 listening session participants continue to attend monthly meetings and new members have now joined them. The roster is now 50 people with 27 members regularly attending meetings. Since the fall of 2008, the group has been focusing on a few core issues:

  • Increasing focus on the special needs of  homeless older adults and making sure people who have experienced homelessness as older adults have a voice in public policy discussions.
  • Advocating for more resources to assist older adults who are applying for Social Security Disability benefits and more resources to deal with the backlog of cases in the system.
  • Advocating for tenants’ rights and issues in public housing.
  • Raising awareness of Transitional and Supportive Housing issues.

People from several government agencies whose work is related to these issues have attended meetings to give presentations and get input from the group. The group members have offered input on the homeless response system and policies addressing supportive housing.

Members of the group have now begun to attend and get their voice heard in various county committee meetings: Ramsey and Hennepin Continuum of Care, St Paul/Ramsey County Homeless Advisory Committee, Minneapolis Complete Count Committee for the 2010 Census. Members have also participated in meetings of the MN Digital Justice Coalition and Media Action Grassroots Network (MAG-Net) events.

The group is open to any low income person over 50, but the primary constituency is voice mail particpants. The group is now making plans to expand its membership. Members feel strong ownership of the group and set the direction for strategies and action that the group takes.

The 50+ Generation group is the first group in Minnesota to focus on the needs of issues of people who are very low income, homeless and above the age of 50. Because of their work, the power of homeless people over 50 is increased because they are at the table now, members feel they are being taken seriously by decision makers and thus have a voice and power in policy making and the determination of resources provided to homeless people.

If you would like to join the 50+ Generation Group or learn more, contact Mark Erpelding at 651-621-2494 or .

visit our facebook page: www.facebook.com/50plusgeneration

50+ Generation:  Exploring community connections