Tips to Find Housing for LGBTQ Older Adults

For any older adult, finding a place to live is a hard process. They have to consider things like cost, proximity to family, and transportation access. For LGBTQ adults, it gets even more complicated. They also have to consider state laws and regulations, community support, and access to healthcare providers with LGBTQ experience. 

In fact, more than 3 in 10 adults who identify as LGBTQ have concerns about finding housing as they age. And over half of LGBTQ adults are worried about housing discrimination in the future.

Thankfully, affordable housing options for LGBTQ older adults are continuing to grow in the U.S. To help decide, it’s good to know what to look for when choosing the best place for you. 

Housing challenges for LGBTQ older adults

As people get older, they often have new needs when looking for housing. They have to prioritize things like healthcare access, safety, and the community environment. But there are some other challenges for LGBTQ individuals. 

Cost

Cost of living is a concern for everyone. But it may be a bigger concern for LGBTQ individuals compared to the general population. 

During the pandemic, 1 in 5 LGBTQ adults over age 50 had incomes below the federal poverty level. They were more likely to have to rely on other forms of income — like loans, savings, or retirement accounts — to provide for personal needs. And they were almost twice as likely to rent their homes. 

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Discrimination

Discrimination against the LGBTQ population comes in many different forms and settings. And many of them can be hard to know or predict before someone moves to a new community: 

• Landlords in urban areas may unfairly raise the rent, or they may be less likely to keep up with maintenance needs.

• Rural areas may not have definitive laws in place that protect LGBTQ rights. 

• LGBTQ individuals may experience microaggressions (subtle hostility) from neighbors and community members. Or they can experience even more direct homophobic harassment. 

• Healthcare providers may be inexperienced in caring for LGBTQ individuals and their unique health concerns.

• Educational programs may not include important LGBTQ history.

• Community programs may not be inclusive or supportive of LGBTQ outreach.

Social isolation

Loneliness and isolation is a serious problem for all older adults. It can raise someone’s risk for both mental health and medical conditions such as:

• Depression

• High blood pressure

• Heart disease

• Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease

Social isolation can be an even bigger problem for LGBTQ older adults. And this is not just because of the basic challenge of finding a supportive community. They’re more likely than their non-LGBTQ peers to live alone and to not have any children. They’re more likely to rely on the support of chosen families, such as partners, neighbors, and friends. But this support can lessen as they age together and health issues develop.

But many of the challenges can be helped if you know what to look for in choosing your next home. 

What to look for in housing options for LGBTQ older adults

Finding a safe place to live is a priority for all aging adults. But this may look a little different for those who identify as LGBTQ. Beyond the typical housing considerations, LGBTQ adults may want to look into additional details to make sure their potential home will support their physical and mental well-being.

Social activities

Community activities can make a big difference in helping someone’s social isolation. Look for social activities that bring people together and promote connection:

• Book clubs or writing groups

• Art programs like painting, knitting, or crocheting

• Group exercise like yoga, aerobics, or activities such as bocce 

• Intergenerational activities where you can teach hobbies or skills to younger generations

• Volunteering opportunities like community clean-ups or donation drives

• Faith-based groups

• Game clubs like chess, bridge, or mahjong

• Clubs in the performing arts like a theater troupe or choral choir

Supportive and well-trained staff

Any long-term care option — from home services to nursing facilities — will have staff that can help with daily activities such as cleaning, bathing, and cooking. Staff members are trained to support all residents. But it’s still helpful to ask if they have any specific training for LGBTQ populations. 

For example, SAGECare has a staff development course that teaches employees about the experiences of LGBTQ older adults. To date, over 400 providers across the country have received certification in the course. These types of trainings also address personal bias and how it can affect quality of care.

Medical care

Many long-term care options often have medical providers, too. Whether you’re considering long-term care or looking into local healthcare facilities, it’s important to look for providers with LGBTQ health experience. 

You need to be able to trust your provider and feel comfortable talking about your health needs and concerns. This trust can help make sure you receive:

• Proper cancer screenings, especially for transgender individuals

• Proper screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections

• Preventive care

• Gender-affirming care and treatment

• Mental health treatment

Your provider should also respect the role of a spouse or partner in important medical decisions. These treatment decisions can be disregarded in LGBTQ couples. 

For info on long-term care options, reach out to a state or local LGBTQ center. You can also search for LGBTQ healthcare providers using OutCare Health’s directory.

Diversity and inclusion 

When exploring a new community, you can look for clues that it is an LGBTQ-friendly environment. Some examples include:

• Brochures and educational handouts on LGBTQ health 

• Posters and advertisements with same-sex couples 

• LGBTQ pride flags

• Welcoming, inclusive language on forms and signs

• Walls and offices displaying policies supporting LGBTQ rights

• LGBTQ social support groups

• Gender-neutral bathrooms

Resources to help you get started

It may feel like there’s a lot to juggle when looking for the right home and environment. If you don’t know where to start, there are maps that can help you take the first step in finding a new home:

• Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Elders (SAGE): The organization hosts a map showing the current states that have active LGBTQ-friendly housing. Only 15 states have openly stated options for LGBTQ older adults to find housing.

• Movement Advancement Project: The LGBTQ nondiscrimination laws map provides an illustration of the strength of each state’s anti-discrimination laws. Over 23 states — along with the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia — have explicit laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

There are also several organizations and resources dedicated to supporting LGBTQ older adults in their search. These include:

• Housing and Urban Development Department

• State and local LGBTQ centers (for example, the Los Angeles LGBT Center or the Ohio LGBT Community Center)

• SAGE National LGBTQ+ Housing Initiative

• SAGE National LGBTQ+ Elder Hotline: 877-360-LGBT(5428)

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Lois Angelo

Lois previously worked in research and communications as an intern for Transamerica Institute and as the managing editor for the Daily Trojan, the University of Southern California’s student newspaper. His research on the intersection of older adults and legislative policies during the pandemic received an Honors distinction and a Discovery Scholar distinction.

Edited by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

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