Friday, July 15, 2005

First Non-Profit G&L Retirement Home Set for Calif.

(Linky-pops to article) Oh, give me a home...where the older grrls roam, and a seat by the buffet all day...
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2 comments:

LNewsEditor said...

JIC Post:

By LAURA WIDES
The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES Jul 14, 2005 — Calling it an overdue "environment of tolerance," officials broke ground Thursday for what they called the nation's first nonprofit senior housing facility designed for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender adults.

The $20 million Encore House in Hollywood will accommodate low-income seniors in 104 rental units and feature a swimming pool and 3,000 square feet of public space.

Expected to open in 2006, it's part of a burgeoning number of retirement communities for older gay Americans. Others, however, are for-profit developments generally for more affluent retirees.

Jack Reauley, 82, and his partner, Bob Claunsh, 80, said they would consider living in the facility as a way to be around people who understand their lifestyles and because of the location.

"It's just a matter of living with other people that you know and live like," said Claunsh, who has been with Reauley since they met in the Army 54 years ago.

Older people are often more discriminatory toward homosexuals than the younger generation, he said.

Gerard Koskovich, an outreach liaison for the American Society on Aging's Lesbian and Gay Aging Issues Network, said Encore House will be the first nonprofit facility of its kind in the nation.

As far back as 1956, there were articles in gay magazines about the need for nonprofit housing for gay seniors, said Koskovich, a historian.

"It's taken 50 years for the social mores to change and for the community to reach a critical mass to start such projects," he said.

Brian Neimark, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Gay and Lesbian Elder Housing, which is building the apartment complex, said the residence will allow gay seniors to live in a safe environment as they increasingly depend on outside care.

"What has had to happen for many older adults is that they've had to go back into the closet to get the care they need," he said. "This would be an environment of tolerance and acceptance."

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's policy institute estimates there are at least 1 million gays 65 and older living in the United States.

7/15/2005 11:10 AM
Anonymous said...

As somebody who will probably not be able to afford the luxury "for profit" GLBT retirement estates popping up in various western states, this is very, very good news.

With women still making about 70 cents for every dollar men earn, it's nice to see somebody else knows WE need a place we can afford to land in someday.

7/18/2005 8:05 AM

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