Developing Affordable Retirement Housing for the GLBT Community

SHARE Our Dream

SHARE, like many non-profit organizations seeking to build low to moderate income senior housing for LGBT and other sexual minorities communities, did a survey to demonstrate the need for this type of housing in Portland. The survey was conducted by SHARE volunteers over an 18 month period and was completed by 714 LGBT and other sexual minorities Oregonians from across the state. The median age of respondents was 53 years old and the ages of respondents ranged from 23 to 84 years old. This aspect of the SHARE survey was significantly different than many surveys and studies of the older LGBT and other sexual minorities population with many having a median age much younger.

Developing housing for our community has come to the forefront in the past decade with over 25 housing developments either developed or in the process of planning and development. The baby boom generation, and the increased acceptance of sexual minorities means older LGBT and other sexual minorities people can live their lives “out of the closet” and makes it more imperative than ever that we develop affordable housing for these seniors. According to the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis we will see a rapid rise in the number of people 65 years of age and older living in Oregon. According to a 2008 presentation:

The dramatic rise in the total population of those 65 and older will have a dramatic impact on the state of Oregon. Within our community we can expect a rise of seniors 65 and older from 45,000 to over 85,000 a near doubling of the population. Unfortunately, studies have shown that older LGBT and other sexual minorities people receive substandard care as they age, and have few options to live their lives authentically in present day Long Term Care facilities. Currently, studies have shown that only 10% of LGBT and other sexual minorities households have children, compared to 73% for heterosexual households. This is significant because it means that many of our seniors, the people who created the more affirmative and accepting social environment we all cherish live alone which can be isolating and difficult as we age.

That is where SHARE comes into the picture. Our study showed that 57% of respondents want to live in a retirement community that promotes independence of its residents, and 40% said it was extremely important to live in a LGBT and other sexual minorities friendly community and 37% reported it extremely important to have LGBT and other sexual minorities sensitive staff. Current options for seniors were reported to be inadequate for the future needs of LGBT and other sexual minorities seniors and while a large portion would prefer to age in place in their own home, they would like the option of LGBT and other sexual minorities senior housing that was opening and affirming and supportive of not just their physical health, but provided a safe space to live out the remainder of their lives.