Homeless LGBT Youth and LGBT Youth in
Foster Care
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Resources: LITERATURE ~ HOTLINE ~ INFORMATION ~ VIDEO ~ PHOTO TEXT EXHIBIT AND
STUDY GUIDE
SHELTERS and SERVICES: UNITED STATES ~ INTERNATIONAL
OVERVIEW ~ STATISTICS ON
GLBT HOMELESSNESS
LITERATURE
Being Safe, Being Out: Helping LGBTQ Youth in Crisis -
a brochure from the National Runaway Switchboard for LGBTQ youth, their
friends, and families. Ever wonder whether the National
Runaway Switchboard was a safe place to refer a homeless GLBTQ youth?
Here's a free, downloadable brochure from them with statistics, information
and resources for your clinic or counseling waiting room or the literature
rack in your classroom or library. http://www.1800runaway.org/pub_mat/documents/LGBTQ.pdf
(pdf format)
Also from National Runaway Switchboard:
Let's
Talk -The Runaway Prevention Curriculum - Module 12 - Sexuality And Sexual
Orientation - this lesson plan is part of National Runaway
Switchboard's The 14 Module Let's Talk Curriculum. At the end of
each module are pre- and post-tests for the participants. You may also
order a CD version of the curriculum through their materials order form.
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions or to return pre and
post tests please contact the Prevention Specialist at 773-289-1723 or via
email at prevention@1800RUNAWAY.org.
http://www.1800runaway.org/rpc/pdf/Module_12_SexualOrientation.pdf
(pdf
format)
Challenges Faced by Homeless Sexual Minorities:
Comparison of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Homeless Adolescents
With Their Heterosexual Counterparts - from American Journal of Public
Health, May 2002, Vol. 92, No. 5, pgs. 773-777. http://www.ajph.org/cgi/reprint/92/5/773.pdf (pdf format)
Hidden in Plain
Sight: Homelessness Amongst Lesbian and Gay Youth - W. O’Connor and D. Molloy, 2001. ISBN/ISSN: 0-904607-79-8. A report which looks
into the reasons for homelessness among young lesbians and gay men, and the
problems they face. Researchers spoke to a cross section of lesbians and gay
men aged 15-24 from six cities across the UK. The report also looks at
service provision among housing and homelessness agencies, and makes
recommendations about how homeless lesbian and gay youth can be better
served. London: National Centre for Social Research; Phone: 020 7549 8520;
Fax: 020 7250 1524; E-mail: s.johnson@natcen.ac.uk; Cost: £12.50 plus £2.50 p&p.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender youth: An epidemic of homelessness - a January 30, 2007 report from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in collaboration with
the National Coalition for the Homeless. Of the estimated 1.6 million
homeless American youth, up to 42 percent identify as lesbian or gay, and a
disproportionate number identify as bisexual or transgender. Why do LGBT
youth become homeless? In one study, 26 percent of gay teens who came out to
their parents/guardians were told they must leave home. LGBT youth also
leave home due to physical, sexual and emotional abuse. LGBT youth report
they are threatened, belittled and abused at shelters by staff as well as
other residents. http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/reports/HomelessYouth.pdf
(pdf format -199
pages)
LGBTQ Homeless Youth Fact Sheet - published on the SSC website with permission
from The National
Alliance to End Homelessness, a nonpartisan, mission-driven organization
committed to preventing and ending homelessness in the United States. The
Alliance analyzes policy and develops pragmatic, cost-effective policy
solutions. Working collaboratively with the public, private, and nonprofit
sectors to build state and local capacity, the Alliance provides data and
research that lead to stronger programs and policies that help communities
achieve their goal of ending homelessness. http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/LGBTQhomelessFactSheetbyNAEH.pdf
(pdf format)
The National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Advisory
Council on LGBTQ Homeless Youth -
includes national and local nonprofit organizations
dedicated to advocating for increased support for LGBTQ homeless youth.
http://blog.nyacyouth.org/2009/04/new-research-and-best-practices-for.html
To further their goal of increasing community awareness, The National
Alliance to End Homelessness and National Youth Advocacy Coalition
have published three new documents in partnership with Lambda Legal, the
National Center for Lesbian Rights, and the National Network for Youth:
1. National Recommended Best Practices for
Servicing LGBT Homeless Youth
2. Incidence and Vulnerability of LGBTQ Homeless
Youth – Research Brief
3. A National Approach to Meeting the Needs of
LGBTQ Homeless Youth
Resources on LGBTQ
youth in the Foster Care and Juvenile Justice Systems -
The documents are part of a new tool kit from the National Center for Lesbian
Rights designed to educate people about the experiences of LGBTQ youth
in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. Some are
California-specific. The others are applicable anywhere.
http://www.nclrights.org/site/PageServer?pagename=issue_youth_docsDownloads
Surviving on Your Own:
Information for Youth on How Schools Can Help
Specifically
for homeless youth and their families, these great posters from The
National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) are in English and Spanish. They let youth and their families
know their rights in the education system: what they are entitled to, by
federal law, in terms of education, regardless of their housing status.
Download the pdf versions and order hard copies (free
product limit: 25 per agency per school year) from here: http://www.serve.org/nche/pr/er_poster.php
Also in booklet form, "Surviving on
Your Own: Information for Youth on How Schools Can Help" http://www.serve.org/nche/pr/youth_booklet.php
Transitioning Our Shelters - A GUIDE TO MAKING
HOMELESS SHELTERS SAFE FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE - by Lisa
Mottet and John M. Ohle; 2003; National Gay and
Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute National Coalition. "Because
youth are coming out as transgender or crossdressing at earlier ages, a
significant number are being kicked out of family homes." http://thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/reports/TransitioningOurShelters.pdf
(pdf format)
We Don't Exactly Get the Welcome
Wagon: The Experiences of Gay and Lesbian Adolescents in Child Welfare
Systems - G. P. Mallon, 1998. ISBN:
0-231-10455-3. The first comprehensive examination of the
experiences of gay and lesbian youths in the child welfare system,
Welcome Wagon makes solid recommendations to social work
practitioners as well as to policy makers about how they can provide a
competent practice for gay and lesbian adolescents, and offers a methods
chapter which will be useful in classroom instruction. NY: Columbia
University Press. @28.00 (pbk). http://cup.columbia.edu/book/978-0-231-10455-5/we-dont-exactly-get-the-welcome-wagon
Working with Homeless LGBTQ Youth: Getting Down to
Basics Tool Kit - from
Lambda Legal. http://www.lambdalegal.org/take-action/tool-kits/getting-down-to-basics/homeless-youth.html
Youth in the Margins: A Report
on the Unmet Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Adolescents in
Foster Care - Current state
foster-care programs neglect LGBT youth, and in many cases, promote a
homophobic atmosphere that serves to undermine the welfare of LGBT youth.
This report from Lambda Legal examines the foster-care programs of 14
states; highlighting the shortfalls of each program in addressing LGBT
youth, and in turn providing recommendations so that these problems can be
reformed. Lambda Legal's Foster Care Poster (pdf format) includes the hotline
info below. http://www.lambdalegal.org/our-work/publications/page.jsp?itemID=32009148
HOTLINE top of page
Foster Care Helpline - for young people in foster care who have questions
about LGBT-related discrimination or abuse, a service of Lambda Legal
Defense and Education Fund. The line is staffed (Pacific Standard Time)
Monday-Friday, 6:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. [9-5:30, Eastern], but callers may leave
messages 24-hours … Phone: 866-LGBTeen (542-8336). Also contact
person: Stefan Johnson @ phone 213-382-7600.
Information top of page
LGBTQI2-S Homeless
Youth, a page from the Homelessness Resource Center of SAMSHA,
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency of
the U.S. Department of Helath and Human Services. Youth who identify as
Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex, or Two-Spirited
(LGBTQI2-S) are more likely to experience family conflict, abuse, and mental
health problems than their heterosexual peers. Because of discrimination and
stigma, LGBTQI2-S youth who are homeless are often careful to protect their
sexual identities from service providers. In this feature, you will find
information about LGBTQI2-S youth along with tips for working with them.
Research notes are presented about the important differences among youth who
are homeless and identify as heterosexual, bisexual, and gay and lesbian.
Website: http://homeless.samhsa.gov/
VIDEO
top of page
Out in the Cold - a documentary about homeless gay and lesbian youth.
Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0328227/
We Are ... GBLTQ - a 42 minute
DVD that was produced by the Washington State Department of Social and
Health Services Children’s Administration, the Washington State Department
of Information Services and Project Coordinator, Evonne Hedgepeth, Ph.D. -
Lifespan
Education, (Phone / Fax: 360-352-9980, evonne@lifespaneducation.com) who is available to
speak with it at training events and conferences around the country. It’s
easily the BEST video about LGBTQ youth in recent memory. It’s about LGBTQ
youth in foster care, featuring the wonderfully articulate, diverse voices
of a dozen or so LGBTQ current and former foster kids, with guest
appearances by some adult experts. It’s an excellent training tool intended
for case workers, foster parents and others serving out-of-home youth, but
absolutely great too for school counselors, nurses, social workers,
teachers, physicians, parents …any adult who cares about youth…and for any
youth in the child welfare system. To order free copies while they last,
contact Marianne K. Ozmun at ozmk300@dshs.wa.gov - 360-902-7928 or
Carolyn Jones at zoca300@dshs.wa.gov - 360-902-0215.
The We Are ... GBLTQ video and an
accompanying discussion guide are both available online at the Foster
Parent Website http://www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/fosterparents/onGoingVid.asp -
the video appears second from the bottom in the list on the page.
The
discussion guide is available here: http://www.dshs.wa.gov/pdf/ca/We Are GLBTQ Discussion and
Resource Guide.pdf (pdf
format).
Also, watch We are ...
GLBTQ online (42 min). http://www.dshs.wa.gov/video/ca/New GLBTQ.asx
PHOTO TEXT EXHIBIT AND STUDY GUIDE top of page
Out
on the Streets
- Twenty LGBTQ youth shared
their stories about living on the streets. Five youth are featured in the
presentation. The other stories appear in a study guide to accompany the
exhibit and are especially designed for high school, church and community
discussion around the challenges and needs of homeless youth - in
particular, LGBTQ youth). It is of an approximately 7 feet by 8 feet
display. If you are interested in having this exhibit at your school, church
or place of work please contact Mary Dispenza, photographer and story
research specialist at mcdispenza@comcast.net;
Website: http://www.safeschoolscoalition.org/outonthestreets/outonthestreets.pdf
(pdf format)
SHELTERS and SERVICES – UNITED STATES (alphabetical by state)
AZ: Eon's Homeless Youth
Project - A program in Tucson of the Southern
Arizona AIDS Foundation, Pima County Health Department and
Wingspan. Website: http://www.eonyouth.org
Part of Eon's larger program, the Homeless Youth
Project offers advocacy, information, and limited services (hotel
vouchers, some emergency food + toiletry supplies, bus tickets, etc.), and
then helps people get into other youth shelters in town. They also
have a youth support group (on Saturdays from 3-4:30 pm) and more.
Phone:
520-620-6245; Email: ccondit@saaf.org.
CA: The Ark House -
A 15-bed residence for LGBTQQ young adults, stays
of 3 to 6 months.
San Francisco
Phone: 415-861-6130
Fax: 415-861-6103
Email: info@arkofrefuge.org
Website: http://www.arkofrefuge.org/
CA:
GLASS-LA
(Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services)
Youth & Family Services, Inc. 1033 N.
Hollywood Way - Unit F; Burbank CA 91505; Phone: (818) 239-0112; Fax: (818)
239-0244; Hours of
Operations
:
Mondays thru Fridays - 8:30 AM — 5:00
PM; Contact form: http://glassla.org/wp/?page_id=42; Website: http://glassla.org/
GLASS is a social service agency
providing a wide range of social and health care services to
self-identified gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-gender, questioning (LGBTQ)
and HIV/AIDS-impacted children and youth who are in foster care, on
probation, or who are homeless.
CA: L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center, Transitional
Living Program - A
24-bed residence, located at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center where youth
ages 18-23 can stay for up to 18 months.
Los Angeles
Phone: 323-993-7471
Email: youthservices@lagaycenter.org
Website: http://laglc.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=YW_YS_Transitional_Housing
CA:
LA Gay & Lesbian Center, Jeff Griffith Youth
Center - Services to youth under 24 years of
age who are homeless or transitioning on a drop in basis: All services are
FREE and only require the youth to register with the front desk. Open 8:00am
to 4:30pm.
7051 Santa Monica Blvd.; Los
Angeles, Ca 90038
Phone: 323-993-7501
Email: youthservices@lagaycenter.org
Website: http://laglc.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=YW_YS_Homeless_Services
Breakfast 8:30am
Lunch 1:30pm
Laundry Room
Showers
Computer Access
Case Management services, GED
assistance, and more - a safe space to rest and feel
welcomed.
CA: Scheuer
House - A supervised program in which
17-18 year old gay and lesbian youth live in shared
apartments.
GLASS: Gay and Lesbian Adolescent
Social Services
650 North Robertson Blvd, Suite A
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Phone: 310-358-8727
Fax: 310-358-8721
Website:
http://glassla.org/wp/?page_id=29
CA: StandUp For Kids Oceanside - This drop in
center for all homeless and at risk youth 21 years of age and younger
welcomes anyone regardless of sexual orientation. They provide a safe and
protective environment for homeless and at-risk youth, thereby fostering the
needed support network of basic human needs and development through
educational programs, one-on-one counseling, and an ongoing atmosphere of
hope and concern.
STANDUP FOR KIDS - Oceanside
P. O. Box 1685
Oceanside, CA 92051
(760) 433-5437
The Oceanside Center is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursday from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm.
Email: oceanside@standupforkids.org
Website: http://www.standupforkids.org/local/california/Oceanside/
FL: SunServe -
Central facility is located on the campus of the
Sunshine Cathedral, 1480 SW Ninth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL
33315-1275; Phone: 954-764-5055; Email: Info@SunServe.org
SunServe has a program for family and youth
especially targeting the need of homeless and “at risk” gay, lesbian, and
questioning youth. Guided by various ongoing community advisory groups,
SunServe develops specific services to reach out to LGBT youth where they
are, provide acceptance, understanding, mentoring and counseling to assist
young people in realizing their full potential. That includes educating
families toward acceptance of as well as intervening to reduce
the harmful effects of family rejection on LGBT and questioning youth by
providing a safe place for young persons to develop self acceptance and
build life affirming skills.
Website: http://www.SunServe.org/
SunServe services include:
A drop-in center and a rap group
for LGBT and questioning 13-17 year old youth - Mondays 3:00 - 5:00
p.m.
Cooperation with other agencies to locate, train and license
gay and lesbian foster parents.
Support services for gay and lesbian foster parents
Support and psycho-educational groups for LGBTQ
youth.
Outreach to LGBTQ youth on the streets and in
shelters.
Training foster care agency staff concerning the needs of LGBTQ
youth.
IA: Iowa Homeless Youth Centers (Des Moines, IA) - The largest provider of runaway and homeless youth
services in the state; 18 to 20% of their participants are
GLBTQ.
Homeless and Runaway Street Outreach
Center
701 Grand Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone:
515-883-2379
Emergency: 515-249-1443
Email: ayouth@yss.ames.ia.us
Website: http://www.yss.ames.ia.us/ihyc/
MA: Waltham House - Group home for serves gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered (GLBT) youth ages 14 to 18 years old.
The Home for Little
Wanderers
271 Huntington
Avenue
Boston, MA
02115-4506
Phone: 617-267-3700
Fax: 617-267-8142
Website: http://www.thehome.org/site/PageServer?pagename=programs_waltham_house
MI: Ruth
Ellis Center ~ Ruth's House - Provides short-term and long-term
residential safe space and support services for runaway, homeless and
at-risk gay, lesbian, bi-attractional, transgender and questioning youth
ages 16-21 in Detroit and Southeastern Michigan.
2727 Second Ave. Suite
158
Detroit, MI 48201-2654
Phone:
313-964-2091
Fax: 313-964-3372
Email: info@ruthelliscenter.com
Website: http://www.ruthelliscenter.com
MN:
YouthLink: Project Offstreets -
An innovative host home program for LGBTQ youth
sponsored by The Minnesota Youth Diversion Project.
GLBT Host Home
Program
41 North 12th
Street
Minneapolis,
MN 55403
Phone: 612-252-1205
Fax: 612-252-1201
Website: http://www.youthlinkmn.org/?q=programs/project_offstreets
NC: North
Carolina Lambda Youth Network - Collaborating with a transitional housing agency in
Durham to offer a residential program specifically for LGBT youth.
North Carolina
Lambda Youth Network
115 Market Street, Suite 203
Durham, NC
27701
Phone: 919-683-3037
Email:
execdir@nclyn.org
Website: http://www.nclyn.org
NY:
The Ali Forney Center (AFC)
- Emergency shelter, HIV prevention and life skills training
for LGBT youth ages 16-24. AFC does
not accept walk-ins for the shelter - anyone interested in the waiting list
should call 917-334-7032. For other contact, the information below is
for the AFC headquarters:
The Ali Forney Center
3151 Broadway, Suite
2C
New
York, NY 10027
Phone: 212-222-3427
Website:
http://www.aliforneycenter.org
Ali Forney Day Center: in the Chelsea section of Manhattan is the entry point to our
programs for homeless youths. There we offer street outreach, referral
to our housing programs, case management, primary medical care, HIV
testing, mental health assessment and treatment, food and showers, and
an employment assistance program.
AFC Emergency Housing Program:
scattered-site emergency housing program with
sites in Manhattan and Brooklyn. We offer temporary housing in safe,
staff-supervised homelike apartments. LGBT youths are able to reside in
our emergency housing program for up to six months while we assist them
in moving on to more permanent housing. Currently AFC has 3 emergency
housing apartments and a total of 18 beds.
AFC Transitional Housing: Tcurrently offers housing to 14 youths in 3 scattered sites in
Brooklyn and Manhattan. The residents are able to live in our
transitional housing program for up to two years, while we assist them
in maintaining employment and in continuing their education. We place a
great deal of emphasis in helping our residents become prepared to live
independently, and our goal is that our residents, upon graduation from
this program, will move on to their own apartments.
The Family Outreach Program: strives to assist families struggling with their LGBT youth in an
effort to prevent young people from becoming homeless. The project aims
to support and strengthen families by offering counseling, education and
outreach services.
NY: Green Chimneys Children's
Services, Inc. New York City Programs for LGBTQ Children, Youth and
Families - Residential, social service and
educational programs that specifically focus on responding to the unique
needs of GLBTQ youth and their families. Programs include The Agency Operated Boarding Home AOBH - designed as a small,
home-like, structured program for gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning
males, 12-16 years old. The Gramercy Residence at Ungar House is a group residential
program for gay, bisexual, transgender & questioning youth 16-20 years
old. The Triangle Tribe Apartment Program consists of two elements
for LGBTQ youth: a Transitional Living Program (TLP) and a Transitional
Independent Living (TIL) program.
Administrative Offices
456 West 145th
Street, Suite 1
New York, New York 10031
212 491-5911-
phone
212 368-8975 – fax
Website: http://www.greenchimneys.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=75
NY: MCCNY Homeless Youth Services -
Three emergency shelters (listed below) run by Metropolitan Community Church
of New York providing emergency shelter to homeless LGBTQ youth in New York
City for self identified gay, lesbian, bi-sexual,
transgendered, transsexual and questioning youth under
24 years of age.
Metropolitan Community Church of New York:
446 W 36 Street, New York, NY 10018
Contact: Kate Barnhart,
Shelter Director; Email: kate_barnhart@yahoo.com; Phone at
718-300-0133
or Lucky Michaels, Shelter Administrator; Email: LuckyMichaels@gmail.com; Phone:
917-463-6439
Website: http://www.homelessyouthservices.org/
Sylvia's Place - an emergency overnight shelter for LGBTQ youth (under 24)
open 365 days/year from 8pm-8am. They provide hot meals (dinner and
breakfast); clothing; showers; case management; physical and mental
health medical services; court advocacy; and host a number of groups
during the week. Sylvia's Place is
located at 446
W.36th Street and accepts clients on a walk-in basis after 8pm daily as
long as we have room. It is a good idea to call before coming to make
sure there is space available: (718) 300-0133. No
paperwork is necessary.
Sylvia's East - an intermediate shelter for LGBTQ youth (under 21) located in
the East Village. Residents at Sylvia's East
are expected to be engaged in school, work, or other constructive
activities. To be eligible for Sylvia's East,
a young person must first have completed a stay at Sylvia's Place. Sylvia's East does not accept
direct referrals.
Sylvia's Sugar Hill - a 6-bed shelter at the Church of the Intercession on 155th
Street designed to meet the needs of “chronically homeless” youth, who
have been homeless for a year or more. These veterans of the shelter
system are more stable than newly homeless youth, and need a more
independent setting to prepare for transitioning to life on their own.
Sylvia's Sugar Hill operates using a
“youth-driven” model, meaning that residents provide a input into
program design and operations based on extensive experience in the
shelter system.
NY: Peter
Cicchino Youth Project - Of
the estimated 20,000 teenagers living on the streets of New York City,
almost half self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT).
These teens have been thrown out of their homes or have run away from foster
care because of homophobia, harassment, and physical abuse. Once on the
streets, the majority of them turn to prostitution and drug use.
Urban
Justice created the
Peter Cicchino Youth Project to reach out to these young
people and help them stabilize their lives. Through this project, they have
assisted thousands of teens to navigate the complicated channels of
government benefits, access permanent housing, and continue their education. Every week,
they conduct legal clinics at drop-in centers for runaways and
LGBT youth, where we counsel clients one-on-one. They also engage in systemic
advocacy and impact litigation around issues such as the mistreatment of
LGBT youth in New York City's foster care and juvenile detention systems.
They work with LGBT young adults who are "aging" out of foster care,
to ensure that they receive legally required discharge planning, and to give
them the skills they need to successfully transition into independent, adult
lives. The project's litigation and advocacy efforts have led to many positive reforms,
including the establishment of foster care housing specifically for LGBT
foster youth and increased training on LGBT issues for foster care workers.
http://www.urbanjustice.org/ujc/projects/peter.html
- All services are offered free of charge
- If you live in New York City, are an LGBT
young person and you need legal assistance, you can make an
appointment with PCYP by calling 646-602-5633, 646-602-5636 or
our toll-free number, 1-877-LGBT-LAW.
- Must be a client or member of the site to be
admitted to the clinics:
Ali Forney
Center - Wednesday, 12:00 -
2:00pm 527 West 22nd Street, 1st floor Take the E train to West
23rd Street. You must be a member of the Ali Forney Center to
attend. Please call 212.206.0574 to join.
Streetwork Project -
Thursday, 3:00 - 5:00 PM 165 West 131st street,
3rd floor New York, New York 10027 Take the 2, 3 trains to 135th
Street. You must be a member of Streetwork to attend. Please
call 212.695.2220 to join.
Hetrick Martin Institute
- Tuesday, 4:00 - 5:00 PM 2 Astor Place Take R or W to 8th
Street or 6 to Astor Place. You must be a member of Hetrick
Martin Institute to attend. Please call 212.674.2400 to join.
NY: Trinity Place Shelter for LGBTQ
Youth
- a 10-bed transitional
shelter that provides LGBTQ youth between the ages of 18-24 with a safe
place to sleep, eat, store belongings, and have access to transportation
Through strong local community partnerships they are able to provide access
to comprehensive medical services, case management, education, career
counseling, art classes and mental health services. Their goal is to help
LGBTQ youth safely transition out of the shelter system and grow into
independent, positive, and productive adults. Youth can stay as long as they
are making progress toward their goals.
Provided by
Trinity Lutheran Church of Manhattan which has long sought to be a
community of welcome and full inclusion for all people regardless of race,
ethnicity, gender, class, age, immigration status or sexual
orientation.
Address: 164 West 100th Street, New
York, New York 10025
Phone: 212-222-7045
Email:
info@trinityplaceshelter.org
Website: http://www.trinityplaceshelter.org/
WA: Isis House - Transitional living for homeless youth,
emphasizing service to LGBTQ young adults ages 18-21 with case management on
site, up to 18-month stays.
Provided by
YouthCare in Seattle.
Prefer
agency referral: 206-694-4507
Youth can
call: 800-495-7802 (24 Hour Help & Referral Line)
Website: http://www.youthcare.org/page.cfm?pagename=Shelter and
Housing
WA:
La-Ba-Te-Yah Youth Home Community - Independent living program for homeless youth ages
14-21, for urban Native American and youth of color; case management on
site; Two-Spirits program and a good number of Two-Spirit staff; up to
18-month stays.
Provided by
United Indians of All Tribes Foundation in Seattle.
Open
referral with interview process. Phone: 206-781-8303.
WA: The Shelter - Emergency shelter for 12-17 year olds; has
been good about working with Trans youth around the separation of gender
required by state licensing; up to 30 day stays - may extend.
Provided by
YouthCare in Seattle
Open
referral with screening. Phone: 206-694-4506.
Website: http://www.youthcare.org/page.cfm?pagename=Shelter and
Housing
SHELTERS and SERVICES – INTERNATIONAL top of page
United Kingdom: Albert Kennedy Trust (UK) http://www.akt.org.uk
For information on how to make a
referral or to request further information contact one of Albert Kennedy
Trust's social workers:
London 020 7831
6562 london@akt.org.uk
Greater
Manchester 0161 228 3308 manchester@akt.org.uk
Brighton
& Hove 01273 724 404 brightonandhove@akt.org.uk
Website:
Supported Lodgings
Self-identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual
Aged 16-21 (22-25 will be considered in exceptional
circumstances)
Homeless, living in a hostile environment or in a housing
crisis
Living in or able to move to: Greater Manchester, London (any
London borough), Brighton & Hove
In
need of one to one residential support
Supported Lodgings
Self-identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual
Aged 16-21 (22-25 will be considered in exceptional
circumstances)
Homeless, living in a hostile environment or in a housing
crisis
Living in or able to move to: Greater Manchester, London (any
London borough), Brighton & Hove
In
need of one to one residential support
Mentoring
Self identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual
Aged up to 25
Access to Greater Manchester, London or Brighton &
Hove
Homeless, living (or potentially) in a hostile environment, in a
housing crisis or just need someone to talk to
In
need of one to one non-residential support
OVERVIEW top of page
by Joseph Truong at
National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC)
How many LGBTQ youth are homeless and what are some resources out
there to find out more? We're often asked to give specific numbers about
the latest known statistics on homeless/runaway LGBTQ youth on a national
basis. A few caveats need to be made before offering any statistics:
Many of these statistics were based specifically
on surveys of homeless/runaway youth in large metropolitan cities (among
others, New York, Seattle and Los Angeles), and sometimes this has been
broadened to say they represent a national statistic, although obviously
using very city-specific results can at best only represent statistics
within that city.
Many of these surveys were from
articles, reports and surveys done quite a number of years ago (going as
far back as the mid-1980s)
That said, although we don't have any current, national statistics
on the number of LGBTQ youth among the homeless/runaway youth population,
the numbers most often bandied around range from 25% to 40% for urban
areas, depending on whom you rely on:
26% of gay adolescent males were forced to leave
home as a result of their sexual identity (Paul Gibson, "Gay Male and
Lesbian Youth Suicide", Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth
Suicide, 1989)
Agencies serving street youth in Los Angeles
estimate that 25-35% of homeless youth are lesbian and gay, and in
Seattle, 40% of homeless youth are estimated to be lesbian or gay.
(Caitlin Ryan and Donna Futterman, Lesbian and Gay Youth: Care and
Counseling, 1998)
The National Network
of Runaway and Youth Services has estimated that 20-40% of youths who
become homeless each year are lesbian, gay, or bisexual (Lambda Legal
Defense and Education Fund, Youth in the Margins, 2001)
So,
unfortunately, it's difficult to give exact figures and data on it.
However, I think it's safe to say that a least a proportionate number of
LGBTQ-identified youth are among the homeless/street population, if not
much higher (sadly).
STATISTICS
ON GLBT HOMELESSNESS top of page
from
Rob Connoley at Indiana Youth Group
In 1989 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found
that LGBT youth constituted 25% of all youth living on the street.
In 1998 Caitlin Ryan and Donna Futterman wrote a book titled
“Lesbian and Gay Youth”, that was published by the Columbia University
Press. The authors analyzed studies on homeless and runaway youth
conducted in Seattle and Los Angeles and found that in these city-funded
studies that gay and lesbian youth accounted for 20 to 40% of all
homeless youth.
On March 12, 1999 UPN broadcasted a section of “The Teen Files”
called “The Truth About Hate” that was produced by Arnold Shapiro who is
best known for his series called “Scared Straight”. During the
research for this program his staff found that 42% of all homeless youth
identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
David Allen, a lawyer in Portland, Oregon, analyzed data
collected in 1993 by Outside In, a medical and counseling agency serving
homeless youth. According to the agency’s findings, about 20% of
Outside In’s clients classified themselves as gay, lesbian, or
bisexual. During the following year, that number increased to 30%.
According to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force,
“Anti-Gay/Lesbian Victimization” (1984) and The Journal of Pediatrics,
“Male Homosexuality: The Adolescent’s Perspective,” 26% of gay and
lesbian youth are forced to leave home because of conflict with family
members about their sexual orientation.
According to the Seattle Commission on Children and Youth (1986),
“Survey of Street Youth”, approximately 40% of homeless youth are
identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual.
According to The National Network of Runaway and Youth Services,
“To Whom Do They Belong?: Runaway, Homeless and Other Youth in High-Risk
Situations in the 1990’s a 1991 report said that service providers
estimate that gay, lesbian and bisexual youth make up 20-40% of homeless
youth in urban areas.
According to GLAD, a gay and lesbian youth group in Decatur,
Illinois, they found that 42% of homeless youth in Decatur identify as
gay, lesbian or bisexual.
In an article written by Matt Lum of The Triangle, the
Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force, in a report titled
“Discrimination Toward Lesbian Women and Gay men” it was reported that
26% of adolescent males have had to leave home due to their sexual
orientation and 42% of homeless youth self-identify as gay or lesbian.
According to a 1992 Advocate article titled “Throwaway Kids, The
National Network of Runaway and Youth Services has estimated that ‘20% -
40% of the 1.3 million kids who become homeless each year’ are ‘gay,
lesbian and bisexual youth.”
Gabe Kruks from the Journal of Adolescent Health in a report
titled, “Gay and Lesbian Homeless/Street Youth: Special Issues and
Concerns reports on an estimate of “25-35%” of homeless youth for Los
Angeles are GLB.
“A 1986 survey of street youth conducted by the Orion Center in
Seattle”, estimated that 40% of their street youth were GLB.
According to Paul Gibson of the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, 26% of lesbian and gay youth are forced to leave home
because of their sexual orientation. Out of that 26% Gibson
found that 25% of youth living on the streets are lesbian and
gay. If rejected by their families and unable to access
support services, many GLBT young people become homeless, increasing
their likelihood of engaging in prostitution and heightening risk for
alcohol and drug abuse, violence, suicide, and HIV and other STD’s
In 1998 Pohan and Bailey did research for the FBI and found that
“ 26% of (GLBT youth) who ‘come out’ to their families are thrown out of
their homes because of conflicts with moral and religious values.
They continued , saying it is estimated that 30% - 40% of homeless youth
in large cities are gay/lesbian youth.”
Rob MacDonald, project coordinator for the Host Homes Program in
Ottawa Canada says that, while working with street kids, he found 30% of
cases had GLBT issues.
According to the
PTS & Ottawa-Carleton GLBT Health Task Group’s research for: “A
Proposal for a GLBT Health/Wellness Needs Assessment and Community
Resource Mapping Project”, they found that 25 – 40% of homeless youth
are GLBT.
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