LGBTQIA+ Housing Rights Research

PghCHR signed a contract with queer, trans-led research firm Outwith Studio to look into what housing discrimination looks like in Pittsburgh for our LGBTQIA+ communities. Despite protecting sexual orientation since 1990 and gender identity and expression since 2014, the Commission sees very few complaints filed on these bases. Outwith Studio did outreach, interviews, and a survey to find out what kind of housing discrimination LGBTQIA+ people in Pittsburgh see most frequently and how it manifests, to do outreach better and serve these communities in our mission to prevent and address discrimination in Pittsburgh.

For the final report summarizing findings and recommendations, click here(PDF, 12MB). There are some excerpts below.

Pittsburgh LGBTQIA+ Housing Rights Research 20 March 2025(PDF, 12MB)

Map of feedback on where people live, where they feel affirmed and where they feel like they can't be themselves in the City of Pittsburgh

At some point, 18% of all survey respondents had dealt with housing insecurity through informal means. For those respondents addressing their acute housing insecurity through informal means: • 92% of that group had crashed with friends, family, or acquaintances, • 33% have slept in a car, • 25% have slept outside, • 42% have traded sexual favors for a place to stay, and • 33% have traded other goods or services for a place to stay

 

Potential actions include: • Strengthening relationships between existing organizations (including Pittsburgh CHR) and members of LGBTQIA+ communities; • Iterating on and improving communication pathways from local government to LGBTQIA+ communities; • Maintaining and distributing a list of housing providers who have demonstrated commitment to inclusive and anti-discriminatory services; • Creating a method to report and track suspected discrimination without initiating investigations; • Continuing to educate landlords (including public and affordable housing landlords), agents/brokers, housing finance professionals; • Supporting informal care/housing networks (with funding and resources), especially housing providers that are “by and for” the community; • Increasing pairs-testing capacity

For the final report summarizing findings and recommendations, click here(PDF, 12MB).

 

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last updated: 09/07/2025

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