LGBTQ+ people face disproportionate rates of discrimination and poverty, including a shared history of community trauma involving both interpersonal and systemic discrimination. This has impacted LGBTQ+ elders in a myriad of ways around disparate health outcomes and unequal access, especially when it comes to housing.
Housing challenges faced by LGBTQ+ elders
LGBTQ+ elders are disproportionately affected by housing discrimination and housing insecurity when compared to non-LGBTQ+ older people. Per a 2023 LGBTQ+ Real Estate Report, 29 percent of LGBTQ+ people experienced housing discrimination or harassment in a housing setting in the past year. A separate report from the Equal Rights Center revealed that 48 percent of older people applying for elder housing were subjected to discrimination.
In places that have less public infrastructure or public support systems, the total lack of housing security impacts LGBTQ+ older adults in compounded ways when they age. This can create a sense of isolation, which leads to rapid physical and mental health decline. With the number of LGBTQ+ adults 50 and older expected to reach seven million by 2030 and affordable housing in short supply, innovative solutions are necessary to fill these gaps. […]
Click here to view the full piece. This story was originally published by Planetizen on October 14, 2024.
