[homeles_ot-l] Release of the final report on the state of housing for LGBTQ2S adults in Ottawa

[John Ecker]

Hello everyone,


Daybreak Non-Profit Housing recently released its report on the housing needs of LGBTQ2S (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, Two-Spirit) adults who have experienced homelessness in Ottawa. The needs assessment, the first of its kind in Canada, included interviews with 22 LGBTQ2S adults, and focus groups and surveys with local service providers.



Key findings from the interviews with LGBTQ2S adults include:


·         Half of the participants had an experience of homelessness prior to the age of 21.

·         Many of the participants discussed the impact of their LGBTQ2S identity on their entry into homelessness, particularly           in regards to landlord discrimination, harassment from other tenants, and struggles with their own gender identity           and/or sexual orientation.

·         The participants generally felt supported by staff members of agencies across the homelessness sector, but some

          participants did recount interactions with staff that were homophobic, biphobic, and/or transphobic.

·         Many participants did not feel safe disclosing their gender identity and/or sexual orientation with other tenants or

          residents. This discomfort arose from the potential of verbal and physical harassment.

·         Over half of the participants stated that they would access housing specific to the LGBTQ2S community.

·         There was no consensus on the type of housing that participants wanted, although a majority stated that they

           preferred independent living.

Based upon these results, we developed 16 recommendations for service providers, service agencies, and the City to assist in the creation of an inclusive sector.

The report can be found at the following link: https://www.daybreakhousing.org/events-newsletters?

Should you have any questions, please contact Alice Kubicek, Executive Director of Daybreak Non-Profit Housing (alice at daybreakhousing.org<mailto:alice at daybreakhousing.org>).

Wishing you all a happy New Year!

______________________________________________________
John Ecker, Ph.D.
Director of Research & Evaluation | Pronoun: he/him
Canadian Observatory on Homelessness
York University | 629 Kaneff Tower | 4700 Keele Street | Toronto, ON M3J 1P3
416-736-2100 ext. 44136
www.homelesshub.ca<http://homelesshub.ca/> | @John_T_Ecker |facebook.com/homelesshub <https://www.facebook.com/homelesshub>

The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness acknowledges that Toronto-York lands are the traditional Indigenous territory of the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee, the Anishinabek, and the Mississaugas of the New Credit. The Métis also had a historic presence here, but Toronto is not traditional Métis territory. The COH also recognizes the presence of contemporary Indigenous Peoples in Toronto-York as these territories were historically, and continue to be, a meeting place for many Indigenous nations.
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