LGBTQIA+ Housing Challenges

Mark Mwandoro
Marketing Director

Housing discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people is an ongoing issue that hampers their ability to access housing opportunities on an equal basis, perpetuating societal inequalities. LGBTQIA+ people face numerous challenges that impede their access to housing, such as discriminatory practices and limited options.

Despite progress in some areas, LGBTQIA+ people continue to experience barriers when seeking housing. Discriminatory practices, including refusal to rent or sell properties based on sexual orientation or gender identity, deny them equal opportunities. These practices contribute to a climate where LGBTQIA+ people often struggle to find safe and affordable housing options, leading to increased vulnerability and marginalization within society. Addressing these challenges is crucial to fostering a more inclusive and equitable housing market for all people, irrespective of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Deep-rooted biases and prejudice against LGBTQIA+ people contribute to their exclusion from housing options. Landlords, real estate agents, and property owners who hold discriminatory beliefs may outright deny housing or impose unfair rental terms based on sexual orientation or gender identity. These discriminatory practices create significant barriers for LGBTQIA+ people seeking safe and affordable housing.

Despite progress in some jurisdictions, comprehensive legal protection against LGBTQIA+ housing discrimination remains inadequate. This lack of protection leaves LGBTQIA+ people vulnerable to discriminatory practices, limiting their access to safe and affordable housing options. Robust legal frameworks are essential to safeguard the housing rights of LGBTQIA+ people and ensure equal treatment in the housing market. In addition to legal safeguards, education, and awareness campaigns are crucial to challenge prejudice and stereotypes and foster inclusivity within the housing market. By increasing understanding and empathy among housing providers and the public, these initiatives can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable housing environment. Collaboration between government agencies, LGBTQIA+ organizations, housing advocates, and community stakeholders is vital to develop effective policies and programs that prevent discrimination and promote LGBTQIA+-affirming housing options.

The fear of discrimination, harassment, or the possibility of being evicted from their homes often compels people who identify as LGBTQIA+ to conceal their true sexual orientation or gender identity when applying for housing. This deep sense of secrecy, driven by fear and self-preservation, not only adds significant stress to their lives but also generates a pervasive feeling of uncertainty and vulnerability. It is truly disheartening that members of the LGBTQIA+ community should be forced to make such compromises, sacrificing their authenticity and genuine selves in order to secure a place to live.

Additionally, LGBTQIA+ people frequently encounter financial challenges resulting from wage gaps, workplace discrimination, and higher rates of homelessness. According to sociology professor Amin Ghaziani, despite the myth of gay affluence, LGBT households are actually more likely to be poor. A study shows that 11.9% of US same-sex households are living in poverty compared to 5.7% of opposite-sex households. Moreover, the average income for same-sex families raising children is $15,000 less than that of straight families with kids. These economic disparities can be attributed to wage gaps and limited social support networks, making it even more difficult for LGBTQIA+ people to access affordable housing options. 
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It is essential to acknowledge that LGBTQIA individuals who belong to other marginalized groups may face compounded challenges in accessing housing. Factors such as race, ethnicity, disability, and socioeconomic status intersect with sexual orientation and gender identity, intensifying the barriers they face. The combination of multiple forms of discrimination and marginalization further limits their housing options, making it even more difficult to secure stable and safe housing.

References

• “The ‘gentrification’ Effect: Why Gay Neighbourhoods Are Being Priced Out.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 2016, www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/jan/13/end-of-gaytrification-cities-lgbt-communities-gentrification-gay-villages. Accessed 10 June 2023.
  
  

• “Explore LGBT Friendly Neighborhoods around St. Louis.” Explore St. Louis, 11 July 2022, explorestlouis.com/discover/st-louis-lgbt/lgbt-friendly-neighborhoods/. Accessed 10 June 2023.
  
  

• “2SLGBTQIA+ Housing Needs and Challenges.” CMHC, www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/blog/2022/2slgbtqia-housing-needs-challenges. Accessed 12 June 2023. 
  
  

• Romero, A. P., et al. LGBT People and Housing Affordability, Discrimination, and Homelessness. The Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, 2020. 
  
  

• “Housing Discrimination and Persons Identifying as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ).” HUD.Gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), www.hud.gov/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp/housing_discrimination_and_persons_identifying_lgbtq. Accessed 15 June 2023. 
  
  

• Fraser, Brodie, et al. “LGBTIQ+ Homelessness: A Review of the Literature.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 26 July 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6695950/. Accessed 15 June 2023.
  
  

• “Discrimination in Real Estate: ‘...Then They Came for Me.’” YouTube, 21 Aug. 2020, youtu.be/zVjZtXLf1c0. Accessed 15 June 2023. ​
  
  

• “An Oral History - the LGBTQ+ Community’s Journey to Homeownership: Chapter 1 - Greenwich Village.” YouTube, 25 Feb. 2021, youtu.be/nk2zxlb34Hs. Accessed 15 June 2023.