Make Sure the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging Includes Info on Homelessness

by Josie Raymond · 2010-10-26 06:55:00 UTC
Topics:

Homeless advocates should be thrilled to learn of the creation of the new National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, the first resource of its kind for this population. This is important for homelessness for two reasons: lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are more susceptible to homelessness and seniors are increasingly ending up without a permanent home. Put the two together and, well, grandma and grandma are vulnerable. In fact, the number of homeless senior citizens is expected to rise by a third in the next ten years and jump 54 percent by 2050.

Being LGBT presents many financial challenges as people age. They're much less likely to have the financial security of a marriage or family relationships and more likely to face discrimination when it comes to housing and dealing with an ailing partner.

Recently the oldest advocacy group for LGBT seniors, SAGE (Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders), revealed the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services and several foundations. Ten other groups, including the American Society on Aging, are also contributing.

The hope is that it will become a clearinghouse for information, personal stories and services for seniors and the organizations devoted to them. But no one knows yet exactly what it is they want and need to know. Filling in the blanks, as the New York Times put it, will take place over the next year. Do your part to make sure it includes information for LGBT seniors who are homeless or facing homelessness — take a few seconds to tell the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging to include info on homelessness!

"The U.S. Administration on Aging is proud to have played a part in the creation of a resource center designed to engage, empower and support mainstream aging providers, LGBT service providers and LGBT older adults," said Kathy Greenlee, the U.S. Assistant Secretary for Aging. "It will help ensure that LGBT elders have the supports they need to successfully age in place." Aging in place doesn't just mean having a shower seat installed; it means avoiding homelessness altogether.

Photo credit: Ruth Ellison

Josie Raymond is a Change.org editor who has reported from the streets of the South Bronx, written for several magazines that folded (not her fault) and fixed thousands of typos.

RELATED PETITION

Urge the National Resource Center on LGBT Aging to Include Info on Homelessness
SIGN PETITION
132 People
PREVIOUS STORY:
For-Profit Colleges Push Back Against Proposed Reform
NEXT STORY:
Is the NCAA Putting Student Athletes at Risk?

COMMENTS (0)

    Comment Policy

    · All fields are required to comment.

    [X]

    Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the campaign on Change.org. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments which, as determined solely in our discretion: (1) are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; (2) include content solely intended to personally attack the campaign creator, (3) are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them; and/or (4) violate our terms of service and/or privacy policy. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion. Please also be advised that: (A) we do not actively curate and/or monitor in any manner whatsoever the comments made on the Change.org platform, and (B) the creator of each campaign on Change.org may remove any comment at her/his/its discretion.