The Increase Of Homelessness Among LGBT Youth

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Evolution of Problem These days’ teens are coming out as LGBT in their early teens, as early as thirteen years of age. 1.6 million youth are homeless each year with 40% of them identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. These numbers are disproportionally high because 7% of the youth population in the United States is LGBT (“True Colors,” 2016). Each year $4.2 billion is spent on homeless assistance programs with less than 5% of this funding, $195 million, allocated for homeless children and youth. Out of that $195 million, there are currently no federal programs specifically designed to meet the needs of LGBT homeless youth, no federal protection for these individuals, and there are only a few state laws in place to keep these youths from being discriminated against while accessing federally funded homelessness services (“Gay and Transgender,” 2010).
Definition of Problem There are many reasons as to why there is an increase of homelessness among LGBT youth. Family conflict is one of the most common causes of all youth homelessness, and in this case the conflict tends to be over the individual’s gender identity or sexual orientation. One in four of LGBT youth are thrown out of their homes and about half get a negative reaction from their parents after coming out (“True Colors,” 2016). Also these youth oftentimes face discrimination when seeking alternative housing. LGBT youth are a very vulnerable population. They are at greater risk for unsafe sex practices, victimization, and mental health issues in comparison to non-LGBT homeless youth. According to the National Alliance to end homelessness, federal funding is inadequate to reach the majority of LGBT homeless youth. The majority never receive access to supportive services or housing opportunities. There are less than one dozen nonprofit organizations nation-wide that offer focused services to LGBT homeless youth, and most of these organizations are either on the west or east coasts. LGBT youth oftentimes report verbal abuse, harassment, and personal judgement from staff and peers in homeless youth shelters and drop in centers so this isn’t always an option for them (LGBTQ Youth, n.d). Policy Trail There are policies that have acknowledged and attempted to deal with the problem of youth homelessness but they aren’t LGBT specific. Prior to 1974, youth who ran away were considered criminals and if found by the police were forcibly returned to their homes. As a part of the 1974 Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, congress passed the Runaway Youth Act (RYA). This act served to decriminalize runaways by requiring states to separate services to runaway youth from the law enforcement, mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice system (Ray, 2006). It required that states that received federal funding provide runaway youth with shelter, food, counseling, and other necessities. In 1977 the RYA was expanded and named the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) and two new programs were created: The Transitional Living Program in 1988 for older homeless youth and the Street Outreach Program in 1994 to help protect homeless youth on the streets. In 2003 congress passed the Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children Protection Act (RHMCPA) which provided a basic center program, street outreach program, transitional living program, and national runaway switchboard for homeless youth (Ray, 2006). The RHYA was reauthorized in 2008 and 2013 respectively, it is up for review every 5 years. Currently there are organizations advocating for homeless LGBT youth.
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The Forty to None project serves to tackle the root cause of the increase of LGBT youth homelessness and is working to end homelessness among this population. They have a three tier approach. The first tier is promoting acceptance which involves understanding the causes of rejection in order to craft effective strategies for reaching families and communities before their young people come out. The second tier involves a targeted family assessment which explores the options for family reunification and or relationship building. The third tier involves affirming and competent care which provides ongoing support and assistance to make it through the transition to independent adulthood (Shelton, 2013). This project is a great way to advocate for this vulnerable population. Attempts to Address Ending homelessness for LGBTQ youth will require policies that address many areas. The promotion of a culturally competent approach to

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