More than 100 people gathered today at Wayne State University for a White House conference on homelessness for the LGBT community -- just days after a federal housing rule was implemented to prevent housing discrimination against lesbians and gays.
U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan addressed the morning session by telling an anecdote of a same-sex couple denied housing in one community and told by staff at that housing authority to go to another because, “that housing authority accepts everyone, even Martians.”
“No housing challenge is as profound as homelessness,” Donovan said. “LGBT discrimination is real, and we need to do something about it.”
Four days ago, HUD enacted a rule that prevents discrimination in federally-funded housing based on perceived or actual gender identity or sexual orientation. While not a legislative change to the Fair Housing Act, Donovan said the agency pursued the rule as part of the White House’s push for lesbian and gay equality across all spheres.
Donovan and other HUD officials spoke about the needs of homeless youth -- 40% of them are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. He noted the Ruth Ellis Center in Highland Park is one of only four in the country that help and house gay teens who have been kicked out of their homes or who have run away because of issues related to gender identity or sexual orientation.
While the average teen is worried about college, jobs and graduating from high school, Donovan said, “Thousands of LGBT teenagers are worried about something more basic.”
U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade spoke on a panel of HUD and child welfare officials, telling those in attendance that in forming a civil rights office, protected rights include those of the gay community.
McQuade praised the anti-discrimination rule, calling it a strong move by the White House to use the powers of the executive branch to enact change.
“I applaud the administration who is not waiting around for Congress,” she said.
As part of the rule, HUD staff will be trained to recognize gay and lesbian discrimination in federally-funded housing. The rule came as a result of HUD’s first study on housing discrimination against LGBT Americans. In the study, same-sex male and female couples and heterosexual couples answered housing advertisements identically on Craigslist. HUD found that gay male couples were less likely to even get a response from the potential landlord. The study appears to mirror findings that gays and lesbians in Michigan are less likely to find housing than heterosexual Michiganders.
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