Transgender Health Issues by Sarah Boslaugh

Author:Sarah Boslaugh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ABC-CLIO

Access to Housing

Home ownership is much less common among transgender individuals than the general U.S. population, according to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Overall, 16 percent of respondents owned their own home, as compared to 63 percent of the general population. Home ownership was lower in every age group among transgender individuals than in the general population, with the greatest differences seen in the younger age groups. For instance, only 11 percent of transgender people in the 25 to 24 age group owned their home, as compared to 37 percent of the general population in that age group. In contrast, among those 65 and older, 69 percent of transgender individuals owned their own home, as compared to 78 percent of the general population.

Thirty percent of respondents to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey reported being homeless at least once, with some subgroups experiencing much higher rates of homelessness. Among those who had been forced out of their immediate family's home, 74 percent report being homeless at some point in their lives; of those living with HIV, 59 percent have been homeless at least once, as have 59 percent of those who have done sex work and 55 percent of those who have lost their job due to their gender identity or expression. Twelve percent of respondents indicated experiencing homelessness due to their transgender status, with 6 percent reporting that they were denied a home or apartment in the past year due to their transgender status, and 5 percent reporting being kicked out of their home or apartment due to their transgender status.

Among respondents who had been homeless in the past year, 26 percent did not seek access to a homeless shelter because they feared mistreatment due to their transgender status, and 6 percent said they were denied access to one or more shelter. Asians (43%) and American Indians (37%) were more likely than average to avoid seeking access to a homeless shelter out of fear of mistreatment, as were those working in the underground economy (36%) or who had been kicked out of their family's home (35%). Among those who were denied access to at least one homeless shelter, 74 percent said they believed the reason for denial was their gender identity or expression.

Among those respondents who had stayed in at least one homeless shelter in the past year, 70 percent reported at least one negative experience at the shelter. Almost half (44%) said they left the shelter because of unsafe conditions or poor treatment, despite having no place to go to. One-quarter (25%) said they dressed or presented as the gender they did not identify with in order to feel safe, 14 percent said the shelter required such dress or presentation, and 9 percent said they were thrown out of the shelter when their transgender status was discovered. Over half (52%) said they were harassed, attacked, or assaulted while staying in a homeless shelter, with 49 percent reporting verbal harassment, 19 percent physical attack, and 17 percent sexual assault (respondents could report more than one type of experience).

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