Beginning in late 2003, two small groups “desiring GLBT elder housing” were absorbed into what was later to become known as GLife Trust Housing Coalition. In late 2005 this combined group began networking to form a broader non-profit coalition, following the decision of a “for-profit” GLBT Elder Housing developer “not to come to Houston at this time”, after spending many months in discussions and project research with metro Houston group
January & March of 2006 a number of us received email invites to
participate in a group that would address the need for GLBT & friends senior
housing. Steve Ryan's vision sparked many of us as we approach the
point of retirement Where will we live, how and who will care for us in
our rainbow years was a subject well worth our time and energy.
Our first luncheon was held at Cafe' Artiste in March of 2006. We talked about various community members who might be interested in such effort and the insight and assistance they might bring to such a group. Early on we looked at the statistics facing our generation lead by the first of many articles from Nancy Ford through Outsmart Magazine. By June a small handful of us were on the phone talking about the program and the need that was already facing us with those we thought would be interested and we found that they were. By mid July 2006 we held a get together of a dozen people including several city council members & local politicians, CEO??s of several GLBT Affirming organizations, and multiple other GLBT Community leaders.
We soon realized that we had great ideas but not enough knowledge to deploy those ideas. We agreed to spend the next months studying related issues, hearing professionals and reviewing what was being done in GLBT communities around the country. We currently have three very distinct entities under the GLife umbrella of organizations: GLife Trust (which is in process of being absorbed into GLife Foundation); GLife Services; and GLife PM (Project Management). All are unified under one “Vision Statement” with their own unique “Mission Statements”; which are on this website.
Our name "GLife Housing Coalition", (pronounced Gee-Life) was established and adopted by all our groups in late 2007. GLife stands for:
G = Gallant, Giving, Gays L = Liberated, Loving, Lesbians I = Informed, Inclusive, Intersexuals-Transgenders F = Faithful, Family, Friends- Bisexuals E = Experienced, Elders, Environmentalist