Summary
2SLGBTQ+ communities have called for more equitable policies for decades. During Pride Month and always, it is important to amplify ongoing queer and trans movements and advocate to advance health equity by ensuring 2SLGBTQ+ communities have dignified access to housing and other critical health and social supports.
Pride Month is not only a time to celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ communities, but a call for more equitable policies across all sectors, from health to housing.
Access to safe, stable and affordable housing is critical for good health. Recent government action on housing has largely focused on increasing housing affordability, while little is being done to address and prevent chronic homelessness.
The City of Toronto’s 2024 budget, released in February, included significant investments into expanding shelter capacity, eviction prevention and shelter diversion programs. While this is a step forward, much more needs to be done to improve access to adequate housing, particularly for equity-deserving populations who are most in need.
Toronto’s 2021 Street Needs Assessment (SNA) showed 2SLGBTQ+ communities were one of the equity-deserving groups overrepresented among those experiencing homelessness. The problem was particularly acute among youth. While about 11 per cent of SNA respondents identified as being 2SLGBTQ+, almost one-quarter of 16- to 24-year-olds staying in City-administered sites identified as 2SLGBTQ+.
People who identify as 2SLGBTQ+ face unique challenges and barriers accessing safe and stable housing and shelter and support services. This can include identity-based family conflict, discrimination outside and inside the shelter system, and higher rates of poor mental and physical health. These and other factors can also impact other critical social determinants of health, such as access to employment, education and healthcare – all of which can further compound the issues they face accessing housing.
Toronto’s Homelessness Solutions Service Plan and HousingTO Action Plan identified 2SLGBTQ+ populations as one of the target groups needing equitable access to safe and accessible housing supports, emergency shelters and long-term housing.
In the past decade, all levels of government have also funded specialized transitional housing for 2SLGBTQ+ people. These include specialized housing for youth: Sprott House operated by the YMCA of Greater Toronto, and Friends of Ruby Home, operated by Friends of Ruby. Other specialized housing includes the Rainbow Wings at The Rekia Centres, the first long-term care homes in North America with units specifically for 2SLGBTQ+ communities, Fife House for people and families living with HIV/AIDS, and most recently, Pacewood, for 2SLGBTQ+ refugees and newcomers, operated by Homes First and supported by The 519.
Targeted homelessness policies and specialized housing are critical steps towards prioritizing the housing needs of 2SLGBTQ+ people. They provide affirming housing and supports, including through ensuring 2SLGBTQ+ community members live among one another in an inclusive and safe community, prioritizing training for staff members on 2SLGBTQ+ issues, and facilitating access to targeted supports such as gender-affirming healthcare.
The city can further strengthen and solidify their commitments to end homelessness by building a strategy with sustainable targeted investments and measurable outcomes for this population. The 2024 City budget made significant investments into moving people out of homelessness. These investments should prioritize key populations who are at greater risks of invisible, chronic and recurring homelessness, including 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
As housing and homelessness influences and is influenced by other social determinants of health, there should be strong coordination and collaboration between City departments and external organizations whose roles encompass health, social, financial and legal services and supports.
Lastly, continuous evaluation of existing programs and policies, including specialized housing and Toronto’s action and service plans, is needed to measure progress and improve accountability towards ensuring homelessness is rare, brief and nonrecurring for 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
2SLGBTQ+ communities have called for more equitable policies for decades. During Pride Month and always, it is important to amplify ongoing queer and trans movements and advocate to advance health equity by ensuring 2SLGBTQ+ communities have dignified access to housing and other critical health and social supports.