(October 21, 2009, Washington, DC) The National Center
for Transgender Equality praises the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) for its announcement today that it will ensure that its
programs are available to all, including LGBT people. Today's announcement is
historic, since HUD is the first federal agency so far to officially propose
guidelines that would explicitly address discrimination based on sexual orientation
and gender identity.
"The evidence is clear that some are denied the
opportunity to make housing choices in our nation based on who they are and
that must end," said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. "President Obama
and I are determined that a qualified individual and family will not be denied
housing choice based on sexual orientation or gender identity."
The proposals announced today include:
-
Requiring that all who participate in HUD's
programs comply with all existing local and state non-discrimination ordinances;
-
Specifying that Federal Housing Administration
(FHA)-insured mortgage loans are given based on the credit-worthiness of the
applicants, and not on other factors, such as sexual orientation and gender
identity;
-
Clarifying that in the public housing and
Housing Choice Voucher program, the use of the term "family" includes all
eligible lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, couples and families; subsidized
housing would be made available to all who need it, without discrimination
based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Also vitally important is today's announcement by HUD
that they are commissioning a national study of the discrimination that LGBT people
face in housing, the first of its kind. To date there have been no federal
studies to evaluate the extent of the problem.
However, a recent study of 6,500 transgender people by
NCTE and the Task Force showed just how fragile housing is for so many
transgender people and why these new actions by the Obama Administration is so
urgently needed. Among the findings:
-
Only 32% of our sample reported home ownership,
compared to 68% of the general population;
-
19% report being denied an apartment or home
because they are transgender;
-
19% have become homeless at some point in their
lives.
NCTE's Executive Director, Mara Keisling commented, "Housing
is a basic right and a basic human need and these numbers show just how blatant
the discrimination is that transgender people face every single day. Today's
actions by HUD will make a difference in a tremendous number of lives. We are so pleased that the Obama
administration continues to express through both action and words that it is
committed to making sure that all federal government programs are accessible to
all people."
NCTE looks forward to working with the Obama
Administration as these proposals move forward to ensure that everyone has
access to housing.
|
