Exploring the housing challenges of 2SLGBTQI+ older adults

Exploring the housing challenges of 2SLGBTQI+ older adults

With Victor Perez-Amado, Assistant Professor, School of Urban and Regional Planning, TMU

Like other cities in Canada, Toronto is experiencing a growing elderly population. Studies predict that areas zoned for single-detached homes, which make up 75% of the city's area, will soon be occupied predominantly by individuals aged 65 and older. Much of this housing presents challenges for older adults in terms of mobility and access to vital services and social supports. 

Older adults who identify as 2SLGBTQI+* and who rely on the concept of 'queer kinship' or 'chosen family' are particularly affected by the lack of age-inclusive housing for many reasons. 

To meet the needs of an aging population and the 2SLGBTQI+ community, we should be striving to create a system that offers flexibility in housing options and locations based on evolving needs, emphasizing the importance of chosen family and connections within the neighbourhood.

Urban designer Victor Perez-Amado is an expert in housing for aging populations. This talk will expand on his successful exhibition at the 2023 Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, focusing on the housing challenges specific to the older 2SLGBTQI+ population and exploring strategies for improvement of housing and services in Toronto. It will also examine the city's municipal processes, with the goal of mapping housing availability, analyzing land use policies, identifying discrepancies, and advocating for inclusive design-based alternatives to age-in-community.

Hosted by Dr. Pamela Robinson, City Building TMU and School of Urban and Regional Planning.

*Indigenous Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex