Thousands of U.S. seniors deal with the harsh realities of homelessness

For 18 years, Vernon Wedge worked as a security camera operator at Dillard's in Arizona.

For 18 years, Vernon Wedge worked as a security camera operator at Dillard's in Arizona. But when he began to lose his eyesight, he lost his job, then his savings, and he became homeless for the first time at 69.

“Money ran out, we got a shopping cart and filled it with personal belongings, mostly clothes, and hit the streets,” Wedge told NBC News’ Stephanie Gosk about how he, his adult son Grant, who struggles with substance abuse, and their dog, Roscoe, were evicted.

“I spent my 70th birthday on the street,” Wedge said.

He’s just one of many seniors experiencing homelessness in their older age. Last year, more than 42,000 people over 65 in the United States were homeless, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Emerging Crisis of Aged Homelessness report.

Learn more by watching NBC News Digital Doc "The Gray Wave: Rising Homelessness for American Seniors."