California citys taxpayer-funded housing for LGBTQ seniors accused of breaking civil rights laws
A San Francisco public housing development praised by elected officials is being accused of discrimination for appearing to preference LGBTQ seniors — according to a complaint filed by a concerned resident who called the plan “blatantly illegal.”The 15-story affordable housing project located on 1939 Market Street would offer 187 studios and one-bedroom apartments for low-income LGBTQ seniors, developers have said, “with climate-conscious design and transit access.” Services run by Openhouse, a pro-LGBTQ nonprofit, will be nearby.Construction is expected to start late this year or early 2027 and last around two years.The housing proposal has at least $47 million in state funding from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, and the city owns the land.The city bought the lot in 2020 for $12 million and is leasing it to Mercy at $15,000 a month for at least 75 years.Resident James Carroll, however, suggested that the taxpayer-funded development’s expressed preference for LGBTQ seniors may run afoul of anti-discrimination laws.
In his complaint shared with The California Post, Carroll demanded developers and elected officials correct their language promoting the project and asked for an investigation over whether sexual orientation is an eligibility requirement.“I will not tolerate discriminatory housing, particularly if I am paying for it with my tax dollars,” Carroll said.The complaint, filed with San Francisco’s Human Rights Commission, noted several past instances where officials have praised the project for helping queer elders.It flagged a July post by state Sen.Scott Wiener that the project would “focus on LGBTQ seniors.” It noted a press release by Mayor Daniel Lurie stating that the homes were specifically “designed to serve [them].” It flagged multiple quotes by developer Mercy Housing and Openhouse indicating a preference for that demographic.“Any reasonable person would interpret this as an admission that...