Understanding housing needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community

PDF - Report

In 2019, we commissioned research examining the diverse needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in order to inform NHS programs. The review focused on Canada, but researchers extended the search to international sources where relevant.

This review covers the following key elements:

identified housing needs and the extent to which these needs are met/unmet
- housing features
- home supports
- locational features
- other needs specific to each group
challenges and barriers in accessing suitable housing
Intersectionality with other identities (e.g., race, gender, age, family status, indigeneity, health, location)
the potential and proven solutions for meeting housing needs

Key findings:

In the housing sector, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is more vulnerable to incidents of transphobia, homophobia, and biphobia.
There are fewer support services for people escaping violence available to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. For example, there may be no local emergency shelter for victims of same-sex partner violence. Shelters segregated by binary gender would also not be available.
A residence or shelter’s physical features can be a barrier. This would include washroom facilities that are not separated by gender and inaccessible entrances for those with physical disabilities.
The data measuring the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is sparse. At the time of writing, Statistics Canada did not provide choices for those along the gender spectrum. There is also a well-documented reluctance among members of the LGBTQS2+ population to self-identify.