The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is making changes to regulations that benefit LGBT families.  HUD administers public housing.

According to today?s announcement, HUD will submit a proposed rule that makes three important changes to federal regulations. First, it includes language that ensures same-sex couples and their children are recognized as families covered by HUD programs, including affordable housing assistance.  Second it requires organizations that administer HUD grants to abide by state and local laws that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  Third it prohibits consideration of factors other than creditworthiness, including sexual orientation and gender identity, in the awarding of mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration.  In addition, HUD announced that the Department will conduct the first-ever nationwide survey of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in housing.

This is really interesting news, particularly as ENDA makes its way through Congress.  Housing discrimination typically goes hand in hand with employment as per the Allegheny County non-discrimination ordinance.  Embedding this level of protection into federal regulation when sexual orientation and gender identity are not federally protected classes is a very concrete step forward. 

Another very interesting angle might be in HUD funded homeless service programs which aren't always on the ball when it comes to delivery of services to our community.

There's more.  The Department of Health and Human Services is creating a resource center for LGBT senior citizens.

The LBGT Resource Center will help community-based organizations understand the unique needs and concerns of older LGBT individuals and assist them in implementing programs for local service providers, including providing help to LGBT caregivers who are providing care for an older partner with health or other challenges. 

More good news, especially here in Allegheny County which does have an aging population. I've heard anecdotally that this a very underserved segment of the LGBT community so perhaps this might trickle down to local providers. 

If you still need to call Jason Altmire about ENDA, these are some good points to bring up. 

Throughout the discussion over the library closures, I keep wondering why we have a beautiful new library on the Northside (total of two now) while other communities may have none.  Perhaps it was dedicated funding? 

I stopped by the new Allegheny branch on Federal Street.  It is big.  I didn't see many books, but I basically order all my books online and just pick them up.  Woods Run (the other Northside library) is a little more cozy and pretty new as well.  Plus, there is parking.  Either way, we were pretty good.  Sure, the War Street folks had to drive or take the bus to Woods Run, but at least we'd have a library.

Maybe someone does need to figure out if all communities are being well served by the closure plan?  I don't profess to know, but I'm not the only one asking.

From my home in Regent Square I can walk to four different libraries: Squirrel Hill, 1.7 miles; Edgewood, 1.1 miles; Wilkinsburg, 0.5 mile; Swissvale, 1.5 miles. Except for Edgewood, all are accessible with one bus ride. How can that be fair when there are city neighborhoods that soon will have no library at all?

I'm truly blessed to have the Squirrel Hill branch. It's a palace. But maybe this $4.4-million renovation in 2005 was overkill favoring an elite neighborhood that already had a very decent 32-year-old facility. Where is the accountability?

WILLIAM McCLOSKEY
Regent Square

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