How To Get LGBT Housing Programs For Adults – Finding a safe place to live is a challenging process for many older adults throughout America. This is because they have to consider things like proximity to family, access to transportation and cost of living. The process is even more complicated for LGBTQ adults. They have to consider state laws, regulations, access to healthcare providers with LGBTQ experience and community support.
As per statistics more than 3 in 10 adults who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community face problems in finding suitable housing as they age. Nearly half of LGBTQ+ adults in America are worried about facing housing discrimination in the future. Fortunately, affordable housing programs are available for LGBTQ+ older adults who want to live in the United States of America. In this comprehensive guide, we will help you know what are the best housing resources for you if you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Highlights of this Post
Key Takeaways
- LGBTQ+ adults face discrimination in housing due to sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Finding safe, affordable housing with supportive communities is crucial for LGBTQ+ adults.
- Government programs and national organizations offer various housing assistance programs.
- Local LGBTQ+ centers and state-specific resources provide targeted support.
- Support groups and roommate matching services can help LGBTQ+ adults feel connected.
What Are The Housing Challenges For LGBTQ Older Adults?
LGBTQ adults who are looking for housing must prioritize things like safety, healthcare access and community environment. However, the following are the challenges that LGBTQ individuals often face in their day-to-day lives.
- Discrimination: One of the challenges towards securing safe housing for LGBTQ adults is discrimination that comes in varied settings and forms. LGBTQ adults face discrimination from their landlords, in rural areas, healthcare providers, in educational programs and in community programs that may not be supportive or inclusive of LGBTQ outreach.
- Cost Of Housing: The cost of living is a huge concern for everyone, especially for LGBTQ+ individuals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 in 5 LGBTQ adults who were fifty years or above in age had income below the federal poverty level.
- Social isolation: Isolation and loneliness are major problems for all older adults as these can risk their medical conditions and mental health and cause depression, heart disease, high blood pressure, Alzheimer and dementia diseases. Social isolation is a major challenge to obtaining secure housing for LGBTQ adults.
What Are The Eligibility Criteria To Qualify For LGBTQ Homeless Shelters For Adults Near Me?
The eligibility criteria for LGBTQ housing or homelessness assistance programs may vary depending on the agency or organization offering the program. The common eligibility criteria include the following:
- Demonstration of homelessness or housing instability
- Self-identification as LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or questioning)
- Income eligibility based on your financial need
- Age requirements that can be specific to young adults or seniors
- Citizenship or residency status depending on the funding sources of the program
- Screenings for background checks that involve credit checks or criminal history
- Compliance with the organizational program rules and regulations including participation in counseling and supportive services
What Are The Documents Requirement For LGBTQ Homeless Shelters For Adults?
The documentation requirement to qualify for LGBTQ housing or homelessness resources may vary from one program to another. Following is a list of commonly requested documents:
- Proof of LGBTQ Status: You need to provide proof of your LGBTQ status in the form of a letter from a counselor, healthcare provider or LGBTQ organization that confirms your identity.
- Proof Of Identity: LGBTQ community members need to provide proof of their identity in the form of a passport from a state ID, driver’s license or government-issued identification documents.
- Proof of Residency: You need to provide proof of address in the form of lease agreements, utility bills or mortgage payments.
- Background Check Authorization: This includes forms that allow the program to conduct background checks if applicable.
- Proof of Housing Instability: A few programs may require LGBTQ members to provide documents in the form of letters from shelters, eviction notices, and statements from social workers to demonstrate their housing instability or crisis.
- Proof of Income: LGBTQ members need to provide proof of household income in the form of pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns or other documents that verify their financial position.
What Are The Different LGBT Housing Programs For Adults?
In the below section of the guide we have provided useful LGBTQ homeless resources that can help LGBTQ adults get the right housing support and reduce their burden.
Government LGBTQ Homelessness Programs
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has partnered with many federal agencies for instance Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), The US Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) to prevent and eliminate homelessness among LGBTQ youth and health all forms of discrimination against LGBTQ community members in housing and shelter.
HUD administers many government assistance programs that can help LGBTQ members get decent and secure housing for themselves. These include:
- Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
- Section 811 Supportive Housing For Persons With Disabilities Program
- Continuum Of Care
- Housing Opportunities For Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) to name a few.
If you’re not sure where to start, the HUD has an online Find Shelter tool that will help you locate a nearby shelter. You just have to type in “LGBTQ+” in the keyword section while looking for a shelter.
National Organizations/ Charities That Help With LGBT Housing Programs For Adults
LGBT Life Center empowers LGBTQ communities by providing them with tons of useful resources that address their housing, mental health, nutrition and medical care problems. The organization provides housing for individuals who are homeless.
They also offer permanent housing for HIV+ and LGBTQ individuals and work with them to attain economic stability, better health and social self-reliance. If you are a member of the LGBTQ community and in need of housing or utility assistance you can contact the organization at 757-640-0929.
The Convent House provides housing assistance and shelter to LGBTQ youth and adults experiencing homelessness.
Apart from providing emergency shelter for LGBTQ members who are experiencing housing instability or homelessness they also offer long-term housing assistance.
Young adults who are transitioning out of shelter and need permanent housing support can contact the organization. The organization comprises a directory of a variety of house shelters throughout the nation and this can be a good resource for LGBTQ+ people.
One of the oldest and largest organizations that is dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ adults and older people is SAGE. Established in 1978 and quartered in New York City SAGE is a popular national organization that offers consumer resources and supportive services to LGBTQ older people and their caregivers.
The goal of the organization is to touch the lives of LGBTQ elders and help them get equivalent treatment. It offers housing assistance for LGBTQ community members who need housing assistance and so it has partnered with 73 organizations in America.
They are also building the nation’s largest and most affordable LGBTQ housing development for those who are 62 years or above in age. The organization hosts a map that shows current states with active LGBTQ-friendly housing and only 15 states have opened options for LGBTQ older adults to secure housing.
The National Coalition for the Homeless is another popular LGBTQ homeless resource that helps. This is a network of individuals who are either at-risk of becoming homeless or currently experiencing homelessness and are committed to helping individuals get out of this major issue.
LGBTQ+ individuals can use the National Coalition for the Homeless directory to find food pantries and shelters throughout the country. You can use the online searchable database to look for support organizations and shelters in your area.
The Trans Lifeline offers peer support for trans people by trans people. The grassroots nonprofit organization helps with financial and emotional support for trans people who are going through a housing crisis.
Their principles revolve around community, peer support, harm reduction, not cops, anonymity and confidentiality, informed consent, not pathological views, structural and mode. You can contact trans or nonbinary peers by calling the Trans Lifeline and get help with useful resources.
The Salvation Army is dedicated to serving LGBTQ community members through pathways of home, homeless shelters, homeless prevention and emergency assistance programs, food assistance, adult rehabilitation centers and job training programs.
Any person who walks through the door of the Salvation Army and needs assistance including housing support can get assistance in meeting the eligibility criteria of the program. It is one of the largest non-governmental providers of services to the LGBTQ+ community.
Statewide/ Local Resources For LGBTQ Adults
The Los Angeles LGBT Center has been providing direct services and housing assistance to LGBTQ+ people since 1971. The organization operates several housing locations throughout Los Angeles for LGBTQ youth and older adults and provides them with the right shelter and safe community that they need the most.
The center manages 2 LGBTQ+ affordable housing buildings for older adults who are 62 plus–Triangle Square and Ariadne Getty Senior Housing. The center also offers a variety of supportive housing programs for LGBTQ youth who are aged between 18 to 24 and experiencing homelessness. It provides transitional living programs, emergency shelters, permanent supportive housing, rental assistance and host homes.
The Bronx LGBTQ+ Center Destination Tomorrow provides 2 varieties of housing assistance programs. The housing program enables LGBTQ members to find housing that meets their needs and advocates for low-cost housing for the LGBTQ community. You can contact them for assistance by dialing 6467233325.
LGBTQ Senior House is a nonprofit organization that aims to provide safe, welcoming and affordable housing for low-income LGBTQ seniors.
LGBTQ seniors living in the Greater Boston community can get an inclusive environment and seek affordable housing with this organization. A percentage of LGBTQ seniors belong to low-income households with one-third living at or below 200% of the poverty level. This is the reason why LGBTQ Senior Housing aims to provide support and community to senior LGBTQ members to make sure they get a roof over their heads and form real connections with others in the community.
Founded in the honor of a gender nonconforming New Yorker Ali Forney the Ali Forney Center is dedicated to assisting LGBTQ youth and adults experiencing homelessness to get the right type of housing support through outreach, drop-in-centers and other assistance programs. The organization has emergency housing locations in Queens and Brooklyn including a transitional housing program to help needy people find housing when leaving shelters.
Housing Works offers housing support to homeless New Yorkers who are living with HIV including LGBTQ members and transgender people living with HIV. It offers housing to families where the head of the household member is living with HIV.
The organization offers life-saving services and healthcare assistance to someone who gets settled in a Housing Works House. Some of their locations include Claremont residents in the Bronx and Keith. D Cylar’s house in the East Village.
Established in 2015 Princess Janae Place is the only community-based housing institution in New York City led by and aimed at gender nonbinary and transgender citizens who are going through housing insecurity and homelessness.
They provide programs that help in navigating the real estate market and assist in finding affordable and safe housing through state and city voucher programs. They also offer help with filling out housing applications, and referrals to pre-screen realtors and landlords.
The Transgender Health and Wellness Center is participating in the Riverside County homeless services to provide housing vouchers for need you transgender people.
It offers housing assistance to TGI people in Southern California who are looking for a safe place to live including furniture and household items for their new homes. They aim to ensure transgender community gets the right tools, housing support and stability to lead a good life. To know more details about the Center, you can contact them at 760-202-4308.
Everyone in the LGBTQ community in Miami including youth and adults can get housing assistance and useful resources from the Rainbow Lotus Program. This program provides the homeless community with a nurturing, living environment.
The organization promotes a holistic approach to well-being and helps LGBTQ individuals with the right shelter, clothing, meals, educational assistance, access to healthcare and mental care treatment and job readiness training. On joining their support group you enjoy field trips, cytological education, linkages to the community and social activities.
Frontline Service reaches out to children and adults in northeast Ohio to eliminate homelessness, resolve behavioural crisis, prevent suicide and overcome trauma.
The organization helps the homeless, those in psychiatric crisis, LGBTQ members, and severely mentally disabled with emergency shelters, case management, temporary housing, drug and alcohol programming and permanent supportive housing.
NYLAG stands for New York Legal Assistance Router and offers free legal services to individuals experiencing poverty or discrimination issues.
The LGBTQ community often face housing-related problems like housing discrimination as a result of gender identity or sexual orientation and tenants rights issues like eviction can contact this group. You can reach out to the organization by dialing 212-613-5000.
ACR Health is a community-based not-for-profit organization that offers supportive services to individuals who have been suffering from chronic diseases like AIDS or HIV and helps them to ensure their well-being. The organization offers LGBTQ housing programs for young adults aged between 18 to 24 years.
Their program offers security deposits, assistance in finding and securing affordable and safe one-bedroom apartments, moving assistance, rental assistance for up to 24 months. They offer assistance in accessing health insurance and public assistance benefits, supportive case management services for 30 months and assistance with finding employment opportunities.
Rainbow Roommates was founded in 1995 with a roommate matching service designed for LGBTQ community members in New Jersey, New York City and Westchester.
You can list LGBTQ-friendly apartments or available rooms on the site and seek LGBTQ-friendly apartment shares and roommates. It generally costs $30 for a 15-day account including $50 for a month.
Once you fill out an application the site will send you listings that will match your preferences and budget and you can talk or e-mail your prospective roommate before moving into instruction. The site also provides roommate guidelines, coaching and sample roommate agreements to start the process.
An emerging initiative that builds LGBTQ+ centered intergenerational communities for young and older adults and helps with housing assistance, career development and forming social connections is One Roof Chicago. The organization combines mixed-income housing for LGBTQ adults and seniors who are living with HIV and provide job training and supportive housing assistance for LGBTQ young adults.
Learn more about emergency rental assistance programs in our next guide to get help with your needs.
Additional Housing Support And Resources For LGBTQ+ Individuals
Following is a list of housing vouchers for the homeless and organizations that are committed to providing housing, support, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ individuals throughout the country. No matter whether you are looking for legal assistance, a safe place to stay or community connection these resources will be of great help for you.
- American Civil Liberties Union: Dedicated to freedom, justice and equality and champions individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the institution.
- GeoSure: Offers information about more than 40,000 locations throughout the world that offer ratings based on customized safety metrics for LGBTQ members.
- Human Rights Campaign: Committed to ensuring acceptance and rights for everyone and advancing LGBTQ equality.
- LGBTQ Housing Initiative: Promotes homeownership with the LGBTQ community and support organization that assists unhoused youth of LGBTQ members.
- LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance: Offers a comprehensive directory of LGBTQ-friendly real estate agents as well as brokers and lists businesses that support LGBTQ community ideals.
- Movement Advancement Projects LGBTQ Equality Map: Represent states with active LGBTQ equality laws and show the progressiveness of every state’s laws.
- National Association Of Gay And Lesbian Real Estate Professionals: LGBTQ home buyers get connected with referral networks and hold events to raise awareness about housing rights for the LGBTQ community.
- National Runaway Safeline: Support at-risk youth and their families. This is a federally designated communication system for unhoused and runaway LGBTQ youth.
- Runaway And Homeless Youth Training And Technical Assistance Center: Offers technical and training assistance to runaway and homeless youth grantees.
- The Trevor Project: Offer suicide prevention, and crisis intervention for LGBTQ members through support, advocacy and resources that make sure of your mental health and well-being.
- True Colors United: Advocates for policy changes and free training to unhoused LGBTQ and make sure they get inclusive space to live.
You can also get more insights about free motel vouchers from online for the homeless in our next guide.
Conclusion
LGBTQ older adults often face challenges while looking for supportive and safe housing in America. Everyone deserves a safe community that protects their physical and mental well-being and allows them to feel connected. Some researchers and organizations are dedicated to supporting and uplifting LGBTQ adults in their research for safe housing. It may feel overwhelming when looking for the right environment and home for LGBTQ adults but with the aforementioned resources you can take the first step in finding a new home where you can thrive.
At Get Government Grants we understand how critical free resources and government programs are for low-income families. This is why we have listed supportive programs and community organizations that help people in times of need. Head to our blogs now to find supportive programs that suit your needs.
