2020 REPORT
Our voices: LGBT+ later life housing
demand in London
What older LGBT+ people want
We are very grateful to everyone who took the time to complete the survey and take part in our focus groups.This is what they told us:
- They want housing, care and support services that are safe, and which recognise their lives, histories and treat them with dignity and respect.
- The vast majority want LGBT+ affirming or accredited housing with care provision.
- They do not want what general provision currently offers.
A message for policy makers
Older LGBT+ people want policy makers and providers to recognise their diversity and differences, and to respond to their specific needs that arise from these.
Many older LGBT+ people in London are not currently getting the support and services they need.
Policy makers and service providers therefore need to respond to this clear message.
Advice and support needs
Our findings also clearly show that older LGBT+ people need more advice and support around housing and other associated services such as health, social care and community services. Some people need these services now and some people need these services to help them plan for their future.
RECOGNISE OUR DIVERSITY
Our study has focused on older LGBT+ people’s housing, care and support requirements in London. For the first time in research on housing and LGBT+ people later in life, our study considers financial variability, as well as different housing tenures when examining what sort of housing and care LGBT+ people want later in life and where they would like it.
LGBT+ people over fifty years of age are a diverse group of people. They have had wide life experiences and lived through immense social change.
Despite this diversity, older LGBT+ people are very clear about what they want and don’t want in relation to their housing options both now and in the future.
Our Funders
Building Safe Choices 2020 is a joint project between Tonic Housing, Stonewall Housing and Opening Doors London.
For further information, contact Matthew Riley.