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    Seniors living on the streets: Rising rents, inflation push more elderly people out of their homes

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    NEW ORLEANS – More senior citizens are living on the streets. 

    Homeless agencies across the country say it’s an alarming new trend because of rising rents and inflation. 

    “It’s hard because you don’t know where your next meal is coming from, where your next shower is coming from,” said Darrell Gibson, 55. 

    Gibson has been on the streets in New Orleans for over three weeks. He has liver disease and recently lost his mother. 

    “This is my first time I’ve been on the streets and without no family,” Gibson said. “My mother was the last family member I had.” 

    Darrell Gibson, 55, has been living on the streets of New Orleans for over three weeks.  (Fox News)

    Gibson is now one of tens of thousands of American seniors without a permanent home, and researchers predict the crisis will get worse. 

    A 2019 study led by the University of Pennsylvania estimated the number of elderly people experiencing homelessness will nearly triple by 2030, reaching over 100,000. And this study was done before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    “It’s a lot harder, especially during the nighttime for older people,” Gibson said. “Your body temperature is not the same as it used to be. Then you have to sleep on concrete and that’s hard.” 

    SPIKE AMONG LA HOMELESS DEATHS WAS NOT DRIVEN BY COVID: DATA

    A senior sleeps on a mattress under an overpass in downtown New Orleans.  (Fox News)

    At Travelers Aid Society, a homeless outreach and counseling center in New Orleans, more seniors are showing up. 

    “It’s alarming what we’re seeing,” said Phyllis Lofton, one of the center’s crisis coordinators. “We used to have the occasional senior come in, but now it’s more of a regular thing with maybe one or two seniors a day coming in newly homeless.” 

    Lofton said many seniors were pushed out of their homes after Hurricane Ida when landlords did repairs and then raised rents. 

    LIBERAL US CITIES CHANGE COURSE, NOW CLEARING HOMELESS CAMPS 

    “There’s an increase in everything right now, and older people have such limited amount of money,” Lofton said. “When they ask for more rent, these seniors aren’t able to pay that amount, and they don’t know what to do.” 

    Lofton knows firsthand how these seniors have felt. Nearly 25 years ago, she came to Travelers Aid Society for help when she was living on the streets after leaving an abusive relationship. 

    “They got me into their programs, some of the same programs I help people get into now,” Lofton said. “It’s my opportunity to pay it back. I can relate to them and let them know it’s going to be OK.”

    Homeless aid agencies blame inflation and rising rents. (Fox News)

    HOMELESS CAMPS ON PUBLIC LAND RISK FELONY IN TENNESSEE BILL

    However, she worried about seniors’ safety amid crime surges in New Orleans. 

    “Now there are homeless gangs that are attacking other homeless people,” Lofton said. “It’s really, really bad.”

    Added Gibson: “The younger ones, they don’t care about anyone but self. All they want is to get high, to rob and to kill.” 

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    Even though he’s fallen on hard times, Gibson remains hopeful. 

    “Every day I just ask God what he has in store for me,” he said. “I believe he’s going to make a way for me.” 

    New Orleans steamboat the Natchez erupts in flames

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    The S.S. Natchez, the last authentic steam-driven riverboat on the Mississippi, erupted into flames Tuesday night, sustaining non-extensive damage, a spokesperson for the New Orleans company that manages the boat confirmed to Fox News Digital.

    “It was a small fire on the bottom deck towards the stern of the boat,” the New Orleans Steamboat Company spokesperson said. “We know there was some fire damage to some wiring and that type of thing. It was put out, both the Coast Guard and the Fire Department helped.”

    The spokesperson said the boat “was in layup right now being renovated,” receiving what the spokesperson called “a facelift.” The company confirmed that no one sustained injuries in the blaze.

    The Natchez on fire. Photo credit Judy Brannigan (Judy Brannigan )

    “Tomorrow, we’ll better assess what we’ll have to do from here,” the spokesperson said, noting that the fire “didn’t do extensive damage.”

    “The boat is the last authentic steam-driven riverboat on the Mississippi,” the company spokesperson added. “That makes it a very unique and important vessel.” The company said work crews had been renovating the boat, built in 1975, for between 4 and 6 months.

    COAST GUARD SUSPENDS SEARCH FOR 3 CHILDREN SWEPT INTO MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN NEW ORLEANS

    The New Orleans Fire Department responded to the fire around 8:05 p.m. Tuesday night, Fox 8 reported. Firefighters arrived to observe smoke pouring out of the steamboat. Boat workers on the scene told the department that crews were torching switchgear panels in the engine room around 5 p.m.

    The 3,000-mile byway follows the Mississippi River and spans from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. (iStock)

    Firefighters descended through the heavy smoke, braving extremely hazardous conditions to reach the seat of the fire. The department said fire crews contained the spread and damage of the fire to the engine room. Eight NOFD units carrying 24 personnel arrived at the scene to combat the fire. 

    The department said it got the fire under control around 9:01 p.m.

    The Natchez on fire. Photo credit Judy Brannigan (Judy Brannigan)

    The Natchez, the ninth vessel to bear that name, docks at the Toulouse Street Wharf. Day trips include harbor and dinner cruises along the Mississippi River. 

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    The ship resembles the Virginia and Hudson steamboats in profile and layout. The Natchez’s steam engines were built for U.S. Steel’s sternwheeler Clairton in 1925, and the company calls the ship’s genuine copper and steel steam whistle “a treasured antique.” The ship’s copper bell, smelted from 250 silver dollars to produce a pure tone, once graced another steamboat, the S.S. J.D. Ayers. 

    New Orleans Police suffer staffing shortage amid crime spike: ‘better chance of calling Ghostbusters’

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    The New Orleans Police Department is reportedly suffering from a staffing shortage as the city deals with an unprecedented spike in crime in recent years. 

    Statistics from the Metropolitan Crime Commission show that homicides alone have increased 128% since 2019 and 46% since 2021. 

    Since 2019, the city has seen shootings go up by 138%, carjackings by 240%, and armed robberies by 26%, according to the statistics. 

    MINNEAPOLIS POLICE ENGAGED IN PATTERN OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: STATE INVESTIGATION

    One fed-up New Orleans homeowner who said she had had her home twice broken into told local station WGNO-TV she has “a better chance of calling Ghostbusters,” given the lack of response she received from the police department. 

    NOPD Public Information Officer Gary Scheets told Fox News Wednesday that the problem of staffing shortages is a nationwide problem, not only in his department. 

    Police vehicles block access to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. (Bryan Tarnowski/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

    “Law enforcement agencies around the country are facing the same challenges related to recruiting and retention of police officers. This is not unique to New Orleans,” Scheets said. “Operational plans are developed to strategically deploy resources with the utmost regard for ensuring public safety.” 

    Scheets said that New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s office has put forth a retention bonus plan to address the issue. 

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    “The key to curbing (violent crime outbreaks) and addressing those is to identify the people that are responsible for the disproportionate amount of violent crime and arresting them, prosecuting them and convicting them,” Rafael Goyeneche, president of the New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission told WDSU. “Then we see the crime rate go down.”

    Coast Guard searches Mississippi River for three missing minors, including 8-year-old girl

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    Coast Guard units were searching the Mississippi River Saturday for three missing children. 

    WWL-TV reported that a 15-year-old boy, a 14-year-old girl and an 8-year-old girl were spotted going into the water Saturday evening in the historic New Orleans neighborhood of Algiers located on the West Bank of the Mississippi River. 

    ATTEMPTED CARJACKING VICTIM IN NEW ORLEANS SHOOTS AT TWO SUSPECTS DURING THEFT: REPORT 

    Units involved in the search included a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew, two Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team New Orleans boat crews, a Coast Guard Cutter Sawfish crew and a Coast Guard Station New Orleans boat crew. 

    The city skyline of New Orleans, Louisiana, and surrounding metropolitan area along the banks of the Mississippi River shot from an altitude of about 1000 feet during a helicopter photo flight.  (iStock)

    The New Orleans police and fire departments were also assisting in the search. 

    Fox 8 Live reported that the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority shutdown the Canal Street/Algiers Ferry amid the search. The ferry was supposed to operate under extended hours to accommodate large crowds attending the French Quarter Festival, but as crews searched the water, shuttle buses instead carried riders between the east and west banks.  

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    The status of the search was not immediately clear by Sunday morning. 

    Attempted carjacking victim in New Orleans shoots at two suspects during theft: report

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    The victim of an attempted carjacking in New Orleans shot at two suspects involved, according to local reports.

    The two 17-year-old suspects approached the 48-year-old victim before 7 p.m. Thursday outside a design studio on Louisa Street. The teenage suspects allegedly held the victim at gunpoint while demanding he hand over his property, FOX 8 New Orleans reported, citing a law enforcement source.

    500 block of Louisa St. in New Orleans.  (Google Maps)

    The victim threw his car keys toward the suspects before ducking behind a nearby vehicle and shooting one of the suspects, as NOLA.com initially reported.

    NEW ORLEANS MAN RIGS FLASH BANG INSIDE TRUCK AFTER SERIES OF BREAK-INS

    One suspect sustained a gunshot wound to the neck as a result, and the second suspect drove the first to Tulane Medical Center, where authorities recovered their two guns, one of which was determined to be stolen, FOX 8 reported.

    Police vehicles block access to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. ( Bryan Tarnowski/Bloomberg)

    “The neighborhood is tired of the crime, and they’re tired of no response from the city,” Michael Ferweda, who lives near where the shooting occurred, told the outlet.

    NEW ORLEANS POLICE RELEASE VIDEO OF 4 SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN CARJACKING DEATH OF 73-YEAR-OLD WOMAN

    He continued: “When the number of carjackings, robberies, and smash and grabs are to the numbers that we see, it’s sad. It’s really sad to see this in our city and the reason why it’s occurring is because there isn’t anything being done about it.”

    Carjackings are up more than 300% in Orleans parish, according to the New Orleans Metro Crime Center.

    Homicides in Orleans parish are up 126% year-to-date, the crime center reported on April 11. The parish has recorded 77 homicides so far this year, compared to 51 at the same time in 2021, 43 at the same time in 2020 and 32 at the same time in 2019.

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    More than 25 people have been shot — including seven fatally — since last Friday, according to FOX 8.

    “The Big Easy” saw a 14-year record in homicides by December of last year. 

    Left-wing writer claims he confronted journalist Andy Ngo, but Ngo says it was another Asian man

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    A left-wing writer with published work in a number of prominent outlets, including The Daily Beast and The Atlantic, was slammed by Twitter users after he claimed to have confronted independent journalist Andy Ngo at a bar in New Orleans. 

    The problem? Ngo asserted that it never happened and that it was likely a mix-up with another Asian-American, saying he was abroad when the alleged incident occurred.

    The story began with this tweet from Thor Benson on April 8: “I just ran into Andy Ngo at a bar in New Orleans. I politely told him he’s a ‘garbage person.’ Lol.”

    When asked for more information by Twitter users, Thor responded that he had put his hand on Ngo’s shoulder at a dive bar and made his comment before going out for a cigarette. He later said Ngo had just left the bar, and he believed his comment made Ngo nervous. 

    ANTIFA MEMBER CRIMINALLY CHARGED TWO YEARS AFTER CONSERVATIVE JOURNALIST ANDY NGO ATTACKED

    Andy Ngo, a Portland-based journalist, is seen covered in an unknown substance after unidentified Rose City Antifa members attacked him on June 29, 2019 in Portland, Oregon.  ( (Photo by Moriah Ratner/Getty Images))

    The next day, Ngo responded and tagged the editor-in-chief of both Popular Science and The Daily Beast: “Thor Benson, a white freelance writer, thought he found me & instead harassed a random Asian in New Orleans & made him leave a bar. Benson’s followers said the man should’ve been assaulted. @TracyConnor@CorinneIOZO you okay w/your contributor doing this.”

    Later that day, Benson tweeted that Andy Ngo supporters “trolling” him on Twitter would be blocked. When asked what happened by Nelini Stamp, a member of the progressive political party “Working Families,” Benson reiterated his story and claimed Ngo was “predictably lying” about it. 

    Ngo subsequently posted a link to a story about the incident and accused Benson of racially profiling and harassing another Asian man. In the same tweet, the independent journalist affirmed the incident in question never happened.

    A day later, Ngo tweeted out that he wasn’t even in the country on the day Benson claimed he ran into him and posted a picture of an email in which Benson responded to an inquiry for comment by the Daily Wire reporter. The statement by Benson included additional details. 

    “I think this is all very silly, but I guess I’ll tell you what happened. I saw Andy, and he was talking to some people about being from Portland, Oregon. I addressed him by his name and he nodded. I kind of humorously said, in some words, that I don’t care for what he does. After that, I went and sat outside and nothing else happened.”

    ANDY NGO SLAMS ANTIFA, CLAIMS THEY ‘TRIED TO KILL ME’ IN PORTLAND ATTACK

    Members of Antifa line up during an alt-right rally on August 17, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. ((Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images))

    “The encounter Mr. Benson alleges did not happen with me,” Ngo told Fox News Digital. “I was not in New Orleans or even the United States last week. Mr. Benson appears to have harassed another Asian male into leaving the bar. Instead of continuing his lies, he should apologize to the person he racially profiled and misidentified.”

    Thus far, Benson has failed to provide information on the name of the bar and time in which he allegedly saw Ngo in New Orleans. Journalist Jonathan Choe tweeted at Benson indicating that he would call the bar in question and attempt to acquire video footage to corroborate Benson’s story. Benson has not responded to his offer. 

    A number of Twitter users reacted in outrage to the Twitter spat between Ngo and Benson. 

    Video creator Lauren Chen reacted to the story with a meme of the Facebook ability to mark oneself safe. “Thank goodness my hair is longer,” she added. 

    “Racist Leftist loser thinks all Asians look alike. Abuses random Asian guy & comes on Twitter to brag about it,” Rita Panahi said. 

    “It wasn’t him. And you’re a racist. You gonna do this to black guys next? If they look like other guys you hate?” Douglas Murray chimed in. 

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    Benson did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

    New Orleans man rigs flash bang inside truck after series of break-ins

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    A man in the New Orleans area, where truck break-ins have surged exponentially in the last year, took matters into his own hands by installing a flash bang inside the vehicle to punish criminals.

    He had a chance to see his creation at work Friday night, when a thief smashed the window of his truck and triggered the loud, non-lethal deterrent he had set up in the center console. It was all caught on surveillance video.

    “To see him like gleefully walk up and just smash my eighth window in the past couple months and jump in, and then you know to see the detonation go off and his reaction,” the man, who wished to remain anonymous, told FOX 8 New Orleans. 

    “I don’t want this guy to die for what he did, but I don’t want him to just be able to smash and grab and run away,” he added.

    LOS ANGELES FOLLOW-HOME ROBBERY SUSPECT ARRESTED AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM PRISON DAYS EARLIER

    “He probably didn’t get hurt that bad, but it wasn’t pleasant, and it might deter him and his friends and tell other people not to do this too because, without something like this, there is no consequence because they’re not going to get arrested,” the truck owner said.

    New Orleans police data shows vehicle burglaries in the city are up 28% compared to last year. In the Central Business District, where the man lives, they are up 116%, according to FOX 8.

    Police vehicles block access to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, Feb. 16, 2021. (Bryan Tarnowski/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

    NEW ORLEANS POLICE RELEASE VIDEO OF 4 SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN CARJACKING DEATH OF 73-YEAR-OLD WOMAN

    “Leadership has failed in more ways than one when it comes to this situation, just crime in the area, like, I reported to the police almost every time and I don’t blame the police for this, they’re understaffed and like there’s too much crime. I really blame the fact that like these, these people get caught, and then they basically get bailed out,” he said. “Whoever did this, definitely, had a bad night. He might never do it again because every time he goes in there, this could happen to him.”

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    The truck owner’s condo is for sale because he says his truck continues being targeted. He believes the thieves are after weapons left in vehicles, because valuables left in past break-ins affecting him have gone untouched. 

    New Orleans police, however, discouraged such behavior.

    “While we understand the frustrations our citizens have with crime, rigging an explosive device to detonate inside a vehicle is illegal and a bad idea,” the department said to WDSU. The department did not immediately to a request from Fox News Digital.

    “Not only is there a risk of injury to yourself and others, there could be serious legal ramifications for everyone involved,” the department said. “Please call your District station or CrimeStoppers to report illegal activity.”

    New Orleans police officer joins Mardi Gras crowd to dance

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    A New Orleans Police Department officer got in on the Mardi Gras fun Sunday when he danced with a crowd to the Cupid Shuffle. 

    Video shows the officer dancing to a few beats with another reveler before disappearing into the crowd. 

    Mardi Gras is back in full force in New Orleans this year after the city canceled parades in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

    HISTORY OF MARDI GRAS: LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION 

    The carnival season started on Jan. 6 and will run through Fat Tuesday, which falls on March 1 this year. 

    Various parades took place Sunday in the French Quarter, Slidell, and Uptown New Orleans. 

    • The Phunny Phorty Phellows (PPP) prepare to take their historic Twelfth Night streetcar ride to announce that Carnival has begun in New Orleans, Jan. 6, 2022.   (AP Photo/Kathleen Flynn)

    • Tarriona ‘Tank Ball’ of Tank and the Bangas performs during Shorty Gras presented by the Krewe of Freret at Mardi Gras World on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 in New Orleans.  (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP))

    • 2022 Krewe of Freret Queen Audrey Volker poses for a photo at a pre-parade party at Mardi Gras World on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 in New Orleans.  (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

    “I’m very excited for Mardi Gras to return to the city of New Orleans. It does give us some sense of… bringing back some normalcy,” New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said at a press conference this week.

    “At the same time, it’s very important for us to realize we are not under normal times.”

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    The city still has an indoor mask mandate in place and requires everyone over the age of 5 to present proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test to go to restaurants and bars. 

    New Orleans police officer joins Mardi Gras crowd to dance

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    A New Orleans Police Department officer got in on the Mardi Gras fun Sunday when he danced with a crowd to the Cupid Shuffle. 

    Video shows the officer dancing to a few beats with another reveler before disappearing into the crowd. 

    Mardi Gras is back in full force in New Orleans this year after the city canceled parades in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

    HISTORY OF MARDI GRAS: LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT THE ANNUAL CELEBRATION 

    The carnival season started on Jan. 6 and will run through Fat Tuesday, which falls on March 1 this year. 

    Various parades took place Sunday in the French Quarter, Slidell, and Uptown New Orleans. 

    • The Phunny Phorty Phellows (PPP) prepare to take their historic Twelfth Night streetcar ride to announce that Carnival has begun in New Orleans, Jan. 6, 2022.   (AP Photo/Kathleen Flynn)

    • Tarriona ‘Tank Ball’ of Tank and the Bangas performs during Shorty Gras presented by the Krewe of Freret at Mardi Gras World on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 in New Orleans.  (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP))

    • 2022 Krewe of Freret Queen Audrey Volker poses for a photo at a pre-parade party at Mardi Gras World on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022 in New Orleans.  (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)

    “I’m very excited for Mardi Gras to return to the city of New Orleans. It does give us some sense of… bringing back some normalcy,” New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said at a press conference this week.

    “At the same time, it’s very important for us to realize we are not under normal times.”

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    The city still has an indoor mask mandate in place and requires everyone over the age of 5 to present proof of vaccination or a negative PCR test to go to restaurants and bars. 

    Mom, Iraq war vet pulls gun on man trying to enter her car: ‘Locked and loaded’

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    A Louisiana mom and Air Force veteran pulled a gun on a man who tried to get into her car while she was sitting in gridlocked traffic with her 2-year-old son. 

    “You shouldn’t have to navigate your own city like a war zone. It’s un-American,” Charise Taylor, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, told WDSU. “The crime is out of control and it’s terrifying. At this point, having to use the same tactics in an American city that you use in Iraq and Afghanistan simply to navigate through the city, it’s scary, and I’m not the only mom feeling this way.”

    Taylor said she was on her way to pick up her husband on Friday in New Orleans when she got stuck in traffic on Interstate 10. While navigating the backup, a group of people in a truck motioned to her to let them into her lane. She let them in, but soon after a man came up to her passenger door and began pulling on the handle. 

    The city skyline of New Orleans, Louisiana, and surrounding metropolitan area along the banks of the Mississippi River

    FLORIDA SUSPECTED HOME INTRUDER SHOT, KILLED AFTER AWAKENING SLEEPING RESIDENTS

    “So, as he comes up he’s close, and he’s pretty aggressive trying to get the car door open, makes eye contact with me, he’s still trying to get it open a couple times,” Taylor said.

    She picked up her gun and recalled warning him: “It’s locked and loaded.”

    The suspect ran off and she was not forced to fire her weapon – though she said she was ready to do so in order to protect her son. 

    CHICAGO WOMAN WITH CONCEALED CARRY FIRES AT WOULD-BE CARJACKERS: ‘HE LOOK SURPRISED’

    “The emotions honestly your body takes in a different form. I stayed in my body of course, but everything transformed. I’m trained to do this. I’ve gone to classes. I’m prior military. If I have to pull this trigger, that’s what I have to do,” Taylor said.

    A New Orleans Police Department vehicle.  (NOPD)

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    She filed a police report but said she was left troubled that the incident was only classified as a “disturbance,” according to WDSU. 

    The New Orleans Police Department is investigating the incident.