Lindsay Church left the Navy in 2012, having served under the United States’ “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which prohibited military servicemembers from being open about their sexual orientation.
“I really struggled with, am I a veteran, or am I queer?” Church told Next City. “And if I’m a veteran, I can’t be queer because they hate me here.”
Since then, Church co-founded Minority Veterans of America, a nonprofit that helps veterans that identify as gender, racial, or religious minorities.
Church’s work remains necessary, for LGBTQ+ veterans trying to regain their autonomy, as well as in fighting continuing attempts to remove transgender servicemembers from the military.
In October, Minority Veterans reached an exciting milestone: The opening of the nation’s first-ever transitional housing facility for homeless LGBTQ+ veterans.
With a $1.8 million levy from King County, the organization opened Q’mmunity House, a renovated 1915 five-bedroom, two-story home in West Seattle.
Signing a 50-year contract with the county, Minority Veterans will operate the home, which gives residents a place to stay for six to 18 months as they find permanent housing.
“Today, we are filled with immense pride as we celebrate the realization of a long-held dream — Q’mmunity House,” Church said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the home.
“This milestone represents years of dedication and hard work to create a refuge for LGBTQ+ veterans who have too often been left behind and experienced discrimination and stigma when accessing essential services.”
The location is safely situated in a quiet cul-de-sac with close access to the veterans center and hospital.
According to the organization’s website, Q’mmunity House aims to recognize the “unique challenges” LGBTQ+ veterans often face, including “higher rates of homelessness and discrimination.”
It’s true; 2023 report found that homelessness among veterans receiving care from the VA is three times higher for transgender veterans than for cisgender veterans.
Additionally, LGBTQ+ servicemembers who were less-than-honorably discharged under “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” are often ineligible for housing vouchers given to other veterans.
Because of this systemic discrimination in the military, many LGBTQ+ veterans who fall on hard times are hesitant to seek assistance through government programs.
“Remember, it’s the government who punished them for outing themselves when they were service members,” Michael Kauth, executive director of the LGBTQ+ Health Program for Veterans Affairs, told KUOW.
“If you served during a time of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’ or during the transgender ban, if you outed yourself, you were punished by losing your career and possibly losing your benefits as a veteran,” Kauth added. “So that’s a lesson that they’ve learned and carry with them after service.”
Church hopes that Q’mmunity House will be a beacon of safety and dignity for all LGBTQ+ veterans.
“At a time when LGBTQ+ veterans, service members, and their families face growing battles over healthcare and basic rights, this space represents hope, healing, and community,” Church said.
“Our goal is not only to provide shelter but to create a model for how we can build a brighter and more equitable future, where every veteran has the support, dignity, and belonging they deserve.”
Eligible LGBTQ+ veterans in King County can apply for one of five spots in the house, with those not initially selected placed on a waiting list for rooms that open up as participants move into permanent housing.
Applicants must be veterans or transitioning service members who identify as LGBTQ+, reside in the county, and have a household income of 80% or less of the county’s Area Median Income.
The first 90 days of housing will be free, and after that, residents will be charged rent, based on a percentage of income, with a cap of $300 per month.
In addition to housing for up to 18 months, residents will have access to case management and other wraparound resources for healing and growth, connecting folks to both veteran and LGBTQ+ communities in Seattle.
“This new, first-in-the-nation transitional housing for LGBTQ+ veterans will provide a historically underserved population with access to temporary housing and on-site support services,” King County executive Dow Constantine said in a statement.
“We are grateful to partner with Minority Veterans of America to fill a critical gap in services for those who have served our nation. This program ensures LGBTQ+ veterans have a safe place to build long-term stability and community here in King County.”
Church and Minority Veterans are now working with the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans to create a blueprint for creating similar spaces for unhoused veterans or marginalized identities.
“My goal is not to just say, like, we want 1,000 LGBTQ veteran transitional houses,” Church told Next City. “I actually want to see — race, gender, sexual orientation — a broader availability of resources that are tailored to meet the unique identities and needs of those communities.”
Regardless of what comes next, Church is ready to make a difference for those just like them.
“We want to encourage that healing around being a part of something again,” they said. “And allow people that space to be in community with one another in the places that they live, and to know that it can be safe to do so.”
Header image courtesy of Minority Veterans of America
