Washington, DC, DC’s first LGBTQ+ Housing Summit.

DC LGBTQ+ Housing Summit to Tackle the Growing Housing Crisis Facing the LGBTQ+ Community

Finding secure and affordable housing is an increasingly challenging task for many individuals in the District of Columbia. However, for members of DC’s LGBTQ+ community, this challenge often reaches near-impossible levels. Recognizing the urgency of the matter, the DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition and the ANC Rainbow Caucus are organizing a two-day summit to address the critical housing crisis gripping the LGBTQ+ community in the nation’s capital.

“The critical shortage of safe and affordable housing is the one single thread running through every sector of DC’s LGBTQ+ communities,” states Heidi Ellis, Director of the DC LGBTQ+ Budget Coalition.

Housing insecurity disproportionately affects those most marginalized, namely DC’s BIPOC community and those caught at the intersection of multiple identities. The housing crisis extends to individuals of all ages, with skyrocketing rents forcing many residents out of their neighborhoods. Alarming statistics in the District indicate that up to 40% of DC’s homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+. Furthermore, the absence of LGBTQ+-affirming senior housing in the District is an urgent concern.

The summit brings together LGBTQ+ service organizations, non-profits, and government agencies to shed light on the existing challenges and also to highlight potential solutions and pathways forward. Currently, 10 local nonprofits, At-Large Councilmember and Chairperson on the Committee of Housing Robert C. White Jr, and Councilmember White’s office are planning the Summit. With the support and sponsorship of the National Women’s Law Center, DC’s Center for the LGBTQ+ Community, Capital One, and others, organizers are pooling resources to host a community convention of ideas, foster collaboration, and create allies in the ongoing battle for safe and accessible housing.

The summit, scheduled for Wednesday, November 29th, and Thursday, November 30th, from 10 AM to 5 PM, will take place at the MLK Library located at 901 G Street NW. This event comes in the week following Thanksgiving, emphasizing the significance of community engagement during the holiday season.

The summit is designed to address critical aspects of the housing crisis. Participants will delve into strengthening LGBTQ+ participation in existing housing programs, identifying LGBTQ+-specific barriers to program participation, and leveraging federal resources to transform DC into a national leader in LGBTQ+-specific housing policy.

The tentative schedule for the summit is as follows:

Day 1 – November 29, 2023:

• 10 – 10:45: Welcome
• 10:45 – 12: Plenary Presentations
• 12 – 1: Lunch
• 1 – 4: Breakout Sessions: Identifying & Clarifying Housing Issue Areas
• 4 – 5: Group Report Back & Closing
• 5 pm: Networking Social

Day 2 – November 30, 2023:

• 10 – 10:30: Welcome, Summary of Day 1
• 10:30 – 12: Education Sessions
• 12 – 1: Lunch
• 1 – 2: Breakout Sessions: Dreaming up Solutions
• 2 – 4: Breakout Sessions: Prioritizing Solutions
• 4 – 5: Group Report Back & Closing

A detailed agenda with up-to-the-minute updates can be found at the DC’s LGBTQ+ Housing Summit website.

All members of the community are invited to actively participate and contribute to finding sustainable solutions for the housing crisis. For more information on the event, and to register (for free) please visit DC’s LGBTQ+ Housing Summit’s Website.