Tonic Housing will open the first LGBTQ+ affirming retirement community in the UK after securing a £5.7 million loan from the mayor of London. The housing association has received the allowance from Sadiq Khan as part of his Community Housing Fund to purchase 19 homes within Bankhouse, an assisted living scheme in Lambeth developed by One Housing.
Tonic was established in 2014 to address the issues of loneliness and isolation of older LGBTQ+ people in the UK with accommodation and safe social spaces, as well as “culturally appropriate services”.
Although non-LGBTQ+ people are not excluded from the programme, Tonic’s mission statement is to respect and celebrate those who do identify under the queer umbrella.