DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that there will be more vouchers for the city’s LGBTQ senior housing program through the Housing Older People Efficiently (HOPE) in the fiscal year 2022.
Bowser made the announcement on Monday, October 18, together with the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs in honor of National LGBTQ History Month and the beginning of DC Values week.
The housing vouchers provide LGBTQ seniors with affordable and safe housing.
“The HOPE LGBTQ Senior Housing Vouchers are a fantastic example of how the Fair Shot FY22 Budget is an investment in our DC Values,” Bowser said in a statement. “There are many ways to ensure that everyone in our community can live happy, healthy lives and so often that work starts by ensuring people have access to safe and affordable housing. We look forward to showcasing these resources and many others during Saturday’s Open House.”
The mayor’s Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Fair Shot Budget includes additional funding for 20 dedicated vouchers for LGBTQ seniors and 20 for LGBTQ adults, with an increase of $479,293 for LGBTQ seniors at least 62 years old and $433,340 for LGBTQ adults.
Through the program, 23 LGBTQ seniors have been housed since 2016.
It's #DCValues week! One of DC's core values is our commitment to diversity. Today, I am excited to announce the increase and immediate availability of HOPE LGBTQ Senior Housing Vouchers & the 9 LGBTQ organizations that will receive grant funding for FY22. https://t.co/u1kvmkeAoj pic.twitter.com/XcuSvaNGzz
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) October 18, 2021
“The Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs understands the many barriers that LGBTQ+ and same gender loving older adults face in the current housing system,” Japer Bowles, Director of Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs, said about the move. Thanks to the increase and expansion in the vouchers program, the office will be able to house 45 members of the community, according to Bowles.
Mayor Bowser and the city’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs also awarded a total of $195,000 to nine organizations serving LGBTQ residents, including AsylumWorks, Latin American Youth Center, The DC Center for the LGBT Community, and Breastfeeding Outreach for Greater Washington.