Organizational Overview

Organization   Founded in 2001, Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing (GLEH) is a non-profit organization committed to constructing and maintaining high-quality affordable residential communities that provide a safe nurturing environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) older adults. Our developments will be indistinguishable from a market rate building but will cater to individuals of mixed incomes, with the majority of units assigned to those of limited means. The facilities will also make available to its residents supportive services and contain an on-site GLBT older adult recreational and social services center providing assistance and activities to both residents of the building and the greater GLBT older adult community. Our vision not only promotes community within the living facility, but outside its borders and into the greater Los Angeles area as a whole.

Population   Census data indicates for the first time in our history, the largest portion of the U.S. population is those ages 60 and over. Due to the absence of sexual orientation as a variable we cannot know for certain the number of GLBT elders. We estimate that there is between thirty to seventy-five thousand GLBT older adults living in the greater Los Angeles area, based on a range of 3 – 8% of the aging population. The number and proportion of GLBT elders will increase significantly over the next few decades, along with the overall elder population.

Development   Recognizing that aging service providers are not ready for the emerging growth in the GLBT older adult population, Gay & Lesbian Elder Housing seeks nothing less than to build a facility that provides essential human services to a diverse population in need and create an affirming environment which allows GLBT older adults to maintain their identities with dignity and security. Although the building will not be limited to GLBT elders, its primary goal is to offer these individuals the acceptance and peer support they might be unable to find elsewhere.

Community   As a community based organization, GLEH seeks the involvement of volunteers to help us with our work. Empowering our community to get involved – to shape its aging future – is central to GLEH’s mission.