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HUD Addresses Unique Challenges For Aging LGBT Community

December 8, 2011 at 3:09 PM ET by Shantae Goodloe
Summary: 
At a day-long conference, leaders from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights address issues faced by aging LGBT Americans.

Ed. Note: This is cross-posted from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's official blog.

Not having access to equal housing or adequate health and long-term care are some of the issues aging lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans face when they approach their golden years. Because LGBT senior citizens are more likely to age without the benefits of a partner or family support, they are unable to find the help they need and sometimes encounter discrimination when it comes to housing and health care.

To tackle these issues, The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Aging, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights held its first-ever national summit for LGBT elders on Wednesday, December 7, 2011, at HUD’s headquarters.

The day-long conference brought together advocates and practitioners from across the country to highlight existing barriers for LGBT elders, as well as explore future possibilities for promoting current efforts to support housing and long-term care designed for LGBT elders. Speakers included Assistant Secretaries Raphael Bostic of HUD’s Policy and Research Development, and John Trasviña of HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, as well as a host of other prominent leaders in the LGBT community.

For more information about the summit, please visit the LGBT Housing Summit website.