Hong Kong woman dreams of creating city’s first elderly LGBTQ co-living space
Jeanne Cheung aims to raise HK$20 million to convert disused shopping centre, and wants to offer financial planning for community members
A lesbian insurance agent is planning to set up the first co-living space for elderly LGBTQ people in Hong Kong, with service options including financial planning to help provide legally recognised asset arrangements for same-sex couples.
Jeanne Cheung Jing-lam, 32, aims to raise HK$20 million (US$2.6 million) through crowdfunding to convert the disused Jordan Square shopping centre into a five-storey co-living space, which would include communal areas such as a bistro, a gym, a garden, a lounge and activity spaces for hosting talks and screenings.
A combination of single and shared rooms could house about 30 people for a monthly fee of no more than HK$40,000 per resident, according to her plan.
“I hope to create this space to facilitate the finding of such people who can help look after your needs,” she said, highlighting the importance of “a chosen family” for those in the community who might not be on good terms with their biological relations.
Cheung said the first step was launching a pilot project in 2026 that would involve running a co-living space for younger LGBTQ people and creating an app to help them find flatmates. She said it could take up to 10 years to get the co-living space for the elderly running.
Hong Kong lacked a physical environment for an LGBTQ support network, with elderly members of the community often falling through the cracks, she added.