4.0 RECOMMENDATIONS / ACTIONS

RESIDENCE: TYPE, COST & FORMING KINSHIP

Through mapping (see map 11) it was found that the majority of individuals reside in an apartment unit, yet the unit was more likely to be located within a house than an apartment building. Considered low-rise apartments (less than five storeys) by the City of Toronto, this building typology is not a purpose-built apartment building, but emerges when detached and semi-detached homes are converted into three or four apartments, sometimes more. Addressing the research question In what ways do formations of community and kinship among LGBTQ2S+ populations and inhabitation of residential space mutually engage? It is important to note that the most common typology found to be inhabited by LGBTQ2S+ individuals, houses-turned-apartments are located in the residentially zoned portions of the city and provide a suburban home-like atmosphere due to the neighbourhood density and building type. Both Dovercourt Village - Little Portugal and Kensington Market - Trinity Bellwoods have these qualities, and consist of residential neighbourhoods adjacent to major streets with businesses and amenities easily accessible. Based on the two clusters with similar characteristics, in addition to the desire to form chosen family within homes, it is likely that these neighbourhood and housing qualities are desired by queer individuals.

Apartment units located in residential homes are typologies that encourage cohabitation. In addition to the desire to build kinship and chosen family in a home, as identified through the thematic analysis, the cost of rent may play an important role in cohabitation. When considering the ‘Rent & Number of Peope’ map, (see map 10) it is evident that cohabitation is reducing the cost of rent for queer folks. The map shows that when living with a higher number of individuals, the cost of rent tends to decrease. The household with the highest number of individuals was inhabited by 6 people, each paying approximately $600 in rent while the lack of communal living nearly doubled the cost of rent for individuals. Many individuals included within the data live in groups of two to four people, while individuals who rent houses rather than apartment units tend to live in groups of four to six, and it costs them less per person than an apartment for only two.

INTERSECTING IDENTITIES

Exploring demographics response to the third research question; the ways in which intersecting elements of identity influence the geographies of residence and inhabitation of space were explored through maps 12 to 14. Of the disclosed ethnicities/cultures, a range are scattered across the city as a whole. A number of small clusters with three to five people - likely individuals who live with one another, are visible across the inner city and consist of multiple ethnicities/cultures. For example, at the Dovercourt Village - Little Portugal cluster, one group consists of 3 individuals; Latinx, Asian and white. On the other hand, when considering the gender identities and sexual orientation across the landscape, these same clusters seemed to reside with other individuals who shared the same sexual orientation or gender identity as them. In general, It is noted that in terms of living formations, folks primarily chose to live with individuals of the same gender identity or sexual orientation as them and different ethnicities/cultures.