1. Rural LISC Annual Meeting May 17, 2018
Presented by
Kelly W. Kent
Director

2. Homes should be our havens – shelters safe enough to be ourselves
as LGBT people. Especially as we age.
Challenges
Economic
Insecurity
Housing Discrimination
Lack of Legal Protections
Racial & Gender Disparities
Add text for each section
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3. Aging Demographics
It is estimated that there are currently near 3 million LGBT older adults 50+ in the United States.
That is roughly the size of the City of Chicago
By the year 2040, this number could reach 7 million LGBT older adults.

4. LGBT Older Adults Are… Twice as likely to be single
3-4 times less likely to have children
Frequently estranged from families of origin
2010 Map report, 2014 Out & Visible

5. LGBT Older Adults Are…
For LGBT older adults, a lifetime of employment discrimination and other factors contributes to disproportionately high poverty rates. One study found that same-sex elder couples face higher poverty rates than their heterosexual peers; 9.1% and 4.9% among elder lesbian and gay couples, respectively, in contrast to 4.6% among elder heterosexual couples.
LGBT older people deal with significant health disparities across areas related to physical and mental health, including high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS and more—as well as with serious mental health concerns like depression and social isolation.
2010 Map report, 2014 Out & Visible

6. LGBT People of Color
Make up approximately 20% of the self-reported LGBT older adult community presently.
Even though LGBT people of color were more likely to be working fulltime (72 percent) than white LGBT people (64 percent), LGBT people of color had significantly less personal income (average of $41,622 annually) and significantly less household income (average of $56,095 annually) than white LGBT people (average of $48,354 for personal income and average of $64,538 for household income).
LGBT people of color were significantly less likely to be homeowners (34 percent) than white LGBT people (56 percent).
Significantly more LGBT people of color (91 percent) were raised in homes with religious or spiritual practice than were white LGBT people (87 percent). Likewise, significantly more LGBT people of color (43 percent) than white LGBT people (33 percent) reported currently having a religious or spiritual practice.
2010 Map report, 2014 Out & Visible

7. Who Will Care for Me? Many lack traditional caregiver support
Reliance on Families of Choice
Some have NO ONE to serve as caregiver

8. LGBT Specific Implications
2014 report by the Equal Rights Center found that 48% of older same sex couples applying for senior housing were subjected to discrimination.
In August 2016, The Williams Institute released a report that found, “Same-sex couples also have a higher rate of poverty compared to heterosexual married couples. Lesbian older couples in particular, are 10-20% less likely than different-sex couples to have retirement income or interest and dividend income,”

9. LGBT Specific Implications
Urban Institute study of housing discrimination within the LGBT population conducted paired testing in Los Angeles, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Washington DC metro areas – Findings included housing providers treated lesbians comparably to heterosexual women seeking rental housing, told gay men about one fewer available rental unit for every 4.2 tests than they told heterosexual men, and told transgender testers about fewer units than they told cisgender homeseekers. There did not appear to be major differences based on race or location in the study findings.

10. LGBT Specific Implications
AARP “Maintaining Dignity” - Released in March 2018
Survey of more than 1,700 LGBT community residents from across the country (all 50 states represented in sampling).
Just 48% of big city residents surveyed and as few as 10% of rural and small town residents say they have access to LGBT senior services in their community.
74% did not live in large urban areas
32% live in suburbs

11. National LGBT Elder Housing Initiative
Building Housing
Training Providers
Changing Policy
Educating Consumers
Expanding Services
The SAGE National LGBT Elder Housing Iniative asks communities to imagine a NEW Reality. The Iniative is a multi-year project with 5 key actions designed to ensure millions of LGBT older people can access welcoming LGBT housing in all its forms. The keys to the Iniative include:
Building Housing – SAGE will invest in building model LGBT elder housing in select communities while sharing our model nationwide to create more LGBT elder housing. Two developments are currently underway in New York City.
Changing Policy - SAGE is actively working to change public policy to both the federal and state level in support of LGBT-inclusive housing.
Educating Consumers – SAGE equips LGBT older adults with tools and resources they need to advocacy for LGBT friendly housing. This includes a searchable map
Expanding Services – SAGE will promote best practices in services and programs that support LGBT older people with their housing challenges.
Training Providers – SAGE will training housing providers nationwide on the needs of LGBT older people. This training is developed and delivered through the SAGECare training team.
Copyright ©2017, SAGE, All Rights Reserved

12. Key Deliverables in Year 1
Capacity building narrative from experienced developers/project sponsors
Capacity building resources for providers and consumers
Recorded webinars on Development, Aging in Place and Home Modification
Developer Resource Directory
Further information:

13. Key Deliverables in Year 2
Continued Capacity Building and Technical Assistance to project sponsors across the United States
Increased visibility within affordable housing industry
Webinar on introduction to LGBT cultural competency
Engagement with new systems of care

14. Training of Mainstream Housing Providers
SAGECare provides LGBT cultural competency training to service providers nationwide
SAGECare provides the added benefit that participating organizations may receive a national credential highlighting the number of staff trained.
“Creating Inclusive Communities for LGBT Older Adults”
“Welcome Home: LGBT Older Adults & Housing”
“LGBT Older Adults: Compliance with HUD Equal Access Rule”
More information available at:
Copyright ©2017, SAGE, All Rights Reserved

15. Questions & Follow Up
Kelly Kent Director, National Housing Initiative
We would love to hear from you regarding any work in your communities related to LGBT friendly housing – training needs, etc.
I have SAGECare flyers to pass around – feel free to contact us with any questions regarding the National LGBT Elder Housing Iniative as well as the SAGECare Housing Trainings.
Copyright ©2017, SAGE, All Rights Reserved