LGBTHomelessYouth

Organizations serving homeless youth have difficulty meeting the
needs of the LGBT population
Lack of focus on the plight of LGBT homeless youth at the federal level trickles
down to state and local programs, and the result is a serious mismatch between
the needs of youth and services focused on the LGBT population. The LGBT
Homeless Youth Provider Survey found that 94 percent of providers have worked
with LGBT homeless and runaway youth in the last year. 119 However, very few
LGBT youth received services that were tailored to their needs. Only 24 percent
of programs in the same survey reported having services designed specifically
for LGBT youth. 120 The primary reason cited for this mismatch between need
and availability was a lack of government funding. 121 While many programs that
serve the general population can also benefit the lives of LGBT youth, it is worth
exploring whether population-specific interventions are necessary to reduce the
disparity in rates of homelessness among LGBT youth or meet unique health,
family intervention, or outreach needs.
It is also important to note that LGBT homeless youth strongly desire services
that are LGBT-specific. A web-based survey of more than 500 LGBT youth
found that the services they most strongly desired were LGBT-specific sexual
health education, LGBT peer support and guidance programs, and assistance
with dating and relationship issues. 122 Transgender youth were also more likely to
prefer services that addressed stress, family issues, and safety and self-defense. 123
Furthermore, transgender youth expressed a strong desire to receive support from
LGBT-identified adults. 124 These findings suggest that LGBT-focused programs—
or programs that include LGBT leaders and staff—may be useful in attracting
LGBT youth to programs and meeting population-specific needs around relationships,
family, and sexual and mental health.
Some service providers also reported that they lack knowledge and experience
in serving LGBT youth, which suggests that education, training, and cultural
competency continue to be barriers to providing adequate and equal service to
this population. Although a majority of organizations that responded to the LGBT
Homeless Youth Provider Survey reported that they are currently working with
LGBT homeless youth and runaways, not all of these organizations reported being
“very knowledgeable” about the LGBT population. 125 Between 65 percent and 80
percent of organizations reported having “a great deal of experience” in working
with LGBT youth. 126 This means that while many of the organizations working
with LGBT youth have a wealth of experience working with the population, a portion
of the organizations feel less knowledgeable or equipped to do so.
22 Center for American Progress | Seeking Shelter