Your golden years should be spent doing the things you love, surrounded by a community who accepts you just the way you are. But, historically, this has been hard to achieve for many LGBTQ+ seniors.

Thankfully, times are changing.

As the number of out-and-proud queer people over 50 continues to grow—doubling to an estimated seven million by 2030, according to Sage, an organization that provides services and support for LGBTQ+ seniors—so will the demand for affordable senior housing that is accepting of all sexualities and gender identities. And, as it turns out, there are already a few in full swing.

From coast to coast, here are some of the best places to retire if you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community and don’t want to completely break the bank.

Openhouse in San Francisco, California

Best for: Proximity to a thriving neighborhood

Cost: Rent is based on the tenant’s income, which cannot exceed 50% of the area median income (AMI), which is essentially the median household income in San Francisco ($119,126).

San Francisco has a long history of activism, with one of the most vibrant LGBTQ+ communities in the nation. But, unfortunately, its exorbitant cost of living has made it nearly impossible for low-or middle-income queer folks to thrive there.

Enter Openhouse, which began offering affordable housing to LGBTQ+ seniors in 2016. It now has two locations with 52 affordable studios, 62 one-bedroom units and seven two-bedroom apartments, all located steps away from the Castro District—a famed spot for the queer community that celebrates LGBTQ+ culture through art and events. Amenities include full kitchens, high ceilings, public spaces and courtyards, and residents have access to tons of events and activities, such as support groups, mindfulness meditations and writing groups.

Town Hall Apartments in Chicago, Illinois

Best for: City living

Cost: Residents must earn between 50% and 80% of the median household income ($62,097). Available subsidies mean tenants will spend less than 30% of their income on rent.

This historic police station now operates as an affordable apartment complex (in Chicago’s trendy Lakeview neighborhood) for LGBTQ+ folks who are 55 and older. The Town Hall Apartments have a mix of studios and one-bedrooms among its 79 units. For those who are eager to get out and enjoy what the city has to offer, the complex is ideally located near retail shops, religious centers, public transit, and Lake Michigan’s beaches and parks. Not to mention, there are beautiful views of the city and Wrigley Field from the apartments’ floor-to-ceiling windows, plus a landscaped terrace, fitness center, private family-sized dining room, and a computer lab.

Stonewall House In Brooklyn, New York

Best for: LGBTQ+ friendship and community

Cost: Residents must earn 50% or less of the median household income ($67,046) and do not have to spend more than 30% of their income on rent thanks to subsidies.

Named after the famous Stonewall riots of 1969, Stonewall House made history as New York State’s first LGBTQ+-affirming affordable housing development for seniors. Located in Fort Greene, Brooklyn’s beautiful, tree-lined neighborhood, the retirement locale opened its doors in 2019 and is now the largest development of its kind in the United States.

Nurturing a supportive community is everything at Stonewall. “The elders who live in the building are a close group and run a tenant advisory council, host their own events, and generally watch out for each other,” says David Vincent, SAGE’s chief program officer. “Another huge perk is a state-of-the-art SAGE Center located on the ground floor of the building, which provides programs, services, and meals to all LGBTQ+ elders.”

John C. Anderson Apartments in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Best for: Pet-lovers

Cost: Between $843 and $977 per month

For those in the Philadelphia area, the John C. Anderson Apartments (JCA) offer a place to call home for LGBTQ+-affirming seniors over the age of 62 who earn well below the area median income. All apartments offered are one-bedroom units and residents can choose from one of two floor plans. Amenities include fully stocked modern kitchens, a community room, a patio, and a roof deck. Located in the heart of Center City, the apartments are near the Avenue of the Arts, William Way Community Center, and numerous options for shopping and dining. Bonus: JCA is pet-friendly for those with furry companions.

Triangle Square Senior Apartments in Los Angeles, California

Best for: On-site activities

Cost: Rent depends on the tenant’s income, but the maximum price for a one-bedroom unit is $1,227, while a two-bedroom unit is between $1,280 and $1,546.

Located in the heart of Hollywood, you’ll find the Triangle Square Senior Apartments, the nation’s first affordable LGBTQ+ housing development for those 62 years and older made up of private, individual apartment homes. You can choose between one-or-two-bedroom units, all of which are energy-efficient with European-style cabinets and look out over an open-air courtyard with a pool.

The community room is open to all residents and more than 70 gatherings, both social and educational, are hosted there each month. Other amenities include a fitness center, arts and crafts room, a computer lab, and a yoga and aerobics studio. A reduced-cost lunch program is also available to residents Monday through Friday, and on-site social services, like legal aid and general support, are provided by the Los Angeles LGBT Center, which aims to address the specific needs of the queer community.

Not only is this complex near the Hollywood Walk of Fame and other popular attractions, but it’s also close to the Hollywood farmer’s market, and residents have easy access to public transportation.

If you browse the web, you’ve likely heard the phrase “quiet quitting” recently—and the torrent of conflicting opinions surrounding it.

Indeed, it seems workers across the nation are taking part in this newly labeled trend. But despite the name, it has nothing to do with handing in your two-weeks’ notice and silently slipping out the door.

What is “Quiet Quitting”?

The phrase, popularized among the Gen Z crowd on TikTok, denotes a shift away from hustle culture and toward firmer work-life boundaries. It’s by no means a new sentiment, but now workers are burned out from having lived through more than two years of a global pandemic while still being expected to give 110% to their employers every day. It’s not sustainable, and employees are increasingly becoming fed up.

“Quiet quitting is boundary setting and actually sticking to the work you’re getting paid to do and nothing more,” says Bailey D., a figure skating coach in New York City who’s been vocal about this issue in their industry.

But Kelly R., a New York-based editor and social media manager, doesn’t think that quiet quitting is an accurate term to describe this workplace phenomenon. “Why should employees take on more responsibilities than what they were hired to do, at no extra compensation? In essence, I do not believe it is a form of quitting at all. It should just be called ‘doing your job.’”

In the wake of last year’s Great Resignation, during which an average of 4.4 million American workers quit their jobs every month, many workers found that their bosses began pushing extra responsibilities on their remaining employees without offering a pay increase to compensate.

And for some, this was a major factor in the decision to disengage.

“Once I realized that no matter how much extra work I did, I wouldn’t be getting fairly compensated—and in some cases I wasn’t getting paid on time at all—I had to set extremely strict boundaries and stick to them,” says Kelly R. about her previous work environment.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that American workers overwhelmingly feel that their employers don’t care about them. According to a Gallup poll, fewer than 1 in 4 U.S. employees feel strongly that their boss cares about their well-being—the lowest number in nearly a decade.

The Two Sides of the Trend

As with any social movement, not everyone’s on board with the concept of quiet quitting. Arianna Huffington, cofounder of The Huffington Post and founder and CEO of Thrive Global, thinks it’s a trend “we need to quit on,” according to a post she recently published on LinkedIn.

“Quiet quitting isn’t just about quitting on a job, it’s a step toward quitting on life,” she wrote. “Pushing ourselves beyond the bare minimum is how we grow, evolve and expand our possibilities.” Instead of quiet quitting, Huffington advocates for what she calls “joyful joining,” or finding a job that both inspires and engages us.

On the other hand, Gala Jackson, an executive career and leadership coach, completely understands why worn-out workers are choosing to slowly detach from the workplace. “Employees are frustrated and struggling with more uncertainty than ever, not to mention still trying to recover from being burned out by the last two years,” she says. “And the job-search process can be rough and take a toll on employees. So can you really blame them for staying where they are and just doing the work, but no more than that?”

Some employees have already faced backlash from their disapproving bosses over the matter. “Unfortunately, it’s getting me into a bit of trouble at the moment,” says Bailey D., who believes that some could lose their jobs in the fight against hustle culture. “But I’d rather push back and be a part of a movement of artists and teachers who are fighting for what they’re worth.”

Jackson, who has a book—Courage, Clarity, and Confidence—coming out in March 2023 that she wrote to help women gain confidence, described her own experience with quiet quitting as one of the best decisions she’s made in her career. “I engaged in quiet quitting early in my career after being passed over for a promotion I absolutely was qualified for,” she explains. “The candidate they hired, who was my new boss, asked me to teach him everything—he literally did not know how to do the job. From that point on, I refused to invest more in my position than what was required because I had tangible proof that I wouldn’t be valued no matter how hard I tried or worked. I used the ‘extra’ time I had from quiet quitting to start my private practice.”

What Can Be Done to Combat Quiet Quitting?

If employers want to put an end to their employees quiet quitting, they’ll first have to address the accompanying trend of “quiet firing,” or the refusal to compensate hard-working employees appropriately, says Jackson.

“Employers need to provide clear metrics and growth plans for employees,” she says. “I know far too many workers, women in particular, who don’t receive any performance metrics at all. If you get the run around from your boss when it comes to the pathway to a promotion, it’s usually a red flag.” You are always within your rights to ask about your career trajectory.

“In reality, what quiet quitting is doing is setting boundaries in the workplace in a world that constantly tells us we’re being entitled for setting those boundaries,” says Bailey D. Millennials and Gen Zers alike are rebelling against what many perceive as an outdated work ethic.

In essence, workers aren’t quitting their jobs, but they are quitting on the idea that their lives have to revolve around work.