Inclusive housing empowers LGBTQ+ community to age with dignity

By 2030, the U.S. population of LGBTQ+ adults over age 50 is expected to reach 7 million. As this community grows, the need to address housing disparities in our state becomes more evident. Elders who live in urban areas, such as Las Vegas, face significant housing challenges due to lack of affordable options, fear of discrimination, social isolation, and socioeconomic and health disparities.

To ensure our local LGBTQ+ elders receive the services and support they deserve, including access to safe and inclusive housing, we all must speak out and advocate. According to data from SAGE, the world’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ elders, 70% of LGBTQ+ older adults fear having to re-closet themselves when seeking elder housing. Housing is a social determinant of health, and without stable housing environments, our LGBTQ+ elders cannot age in place with access to the care they need.

The Older American Act (OAA), which was signed into law in 1965 to ensure access to critical resources for older people in the United States, was updated in 2020 to include provisions for LGBTQ+ elders and individuals living with HIV/AIDS. In recent years, the Biden administration has issued guidance on how states such as Nevada can include this community in State Plans on Aging. This requires states like Nevada to consider the specific needs of LGBTQ+ elders when developing senior centers, assistance programs, elder abuse detection and prevention, and more.

To reach the full potential of this legislation and support our community’s elders, it is essential that we call on the state government and local aging agencies to collect data on and learn more about the disparities and housing needs of LGBTQ+ elders in Nevada. To address the current challenges, we must ensure aging service providers and networks receive training on cultural competency and inclusion. We also need to tap into the knowledge, wisdom and service of LGBTQ+ elders through volunteer programs and job training, and solicit their input on ways to improve housing and related programs.

By joining forces, we can encourage the Office of Public Housing in Nevada and Nevada’s Department of Aging and Disability Services to prioritize inclusivity in their efforts to allow diverse elders the space to age independently and with dignity.

With little research that includes LGBTQ+ elders, there is an immense amount of work to be done to improve outreach to and inclusion of this important community. We must assess their needs and understand how the services available today are meeting those needs. It is imperative that aging services in Las Vegas and the state of Nevada rise to the call to fulfill the needs of LGBTQ+ elders in the Nevada State Plan for Aging Services.

LGBTQ+ elders have fought a lifetime for respect and autonomy for future generations. Now it is our time to contact our local representatives and ask them to prioritize creating an inclusive environment that provides this community with the care they need and deserve.

Jason Flatt is an associate professor at UNLV’s School of Public Health, Department of Social and Behavioral Health.