Changing Lives with the Rainbow Housing Coalition

“When we can be of service to others, it only enhances our lives.” – Billy Porter

The Rainbow Housing Coalition may be the most important local organization you’ve never heard of. That’s about to change. The St. Petersburg nonprofit is on a mission to see that local LGBTQ+ folks, particularly seniors and those living with disabilities, have access to quality housing that doesn’t break the bank. These individuals can face challenges like discrimination, and even abuse, with assisted living or retirement communities. The Rainbow Housing Coalition is committed to improving lives by connecting LGBTQ+ residents with welcoming, safe, and affordable housing.

Changing Lives

Since its inception in 2001, the Rainbow Housing Coalition has had quite a journey. “We shifted from serving disadvantaged youth who found themselves homeless to focusing on the older LGBTQ+ community, simply because there were several other organizations beginning to provide this sort of assistance to the young,” explains founder and board member Bob Pope. “The elderly, having been passed over for advancement and discriminated against throughout much of their lives, can have a very difficult time meeting their day-to-day-needs, much less planning for their retirement years. It is this community, as well as those living with disabilities, that we now assist, with the hope that a coalition of organizations can one day come together for a multigenerational platform.”

The organization is working toward offering its own living accommodations. Among other things, that means fundraising. “Our goal will be limited at first to raising enough funds to purchase a building to house six to eight persons, which has been tentatively set at $260,000,” Pope says.

The board will continue working with other organizations and governmental bodies toward its ultimate goal of opening a multistory building in which it can serve and care for those with HIV, the elderly, those living with disabilities, and a multigenerational LGBTQ+ clientele.

Get Involved

Want to get involved with this organization and help make its dream a reality? Attend a quarterly community meeting to learn more. “Community meetings offer us an opportunity to gain valuable insight into what is happening in our area and to meet folks who are interested in helping, like other organizations engaging in affordable housing projects, builders, developers, investors, those seeking partnerships,” says Cleo Chitester, Rainbow Housing Coalition secretary and board member. “We also want to meet those who are in need of affordable housing and people who share our vision and want to lend a helping hand by spreading the word. Together, we work to brainstorm ways that we can grow and help LGBTQ+ and people living with disabilities find safe and affirmed affordable housing.”

Community meetings are open to the public. Follow Rainbow Housing Coalition on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ PinellasRainbowHousing.

These amazing people are dedicated to providing marginalized residents with the most basic of necessities: a place to call home. Please consider donating to the organization and volunteering.

“Hope will never be silent.” – Harvey Milk