Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth (and Adult) Homelessness

Abstract

Defining a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Youth Homeless Population in the United States Homelessness in the United States is a phenomenon that concerns not only those considered homeless but the general population as well. e number of individuals who are homeless rises as at-risk persons are faced without the resources to maintain stable and permanent housing. e U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notes that “some 2-3 million individuals, experience a night ofContents Dening a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Youth Homeless Population in the United States .........................................................229 What the Numbers Show ..................................................................................232 Factors Resulting in LGBTQ Youth Homelessness ........................................... 234 Why Abuse in the Home, School Setting, and Community Matters..................238 Implications of Survival as the Sole Consideration .............................................238 Reducing the Symptoms through Systemic Changes to the Care Approach .......243 Ending the Cycle of Homelessness ................................................................... 246 References .........................................................................................................247homelessness that puts them in contact with a homeless assistance provider, and at least 800,000 people are homeless in the United States on any given night” (Leavitt 2007, 1). roughout the literature the word “estimate(s)” qualies the number of homeless individuals accounted for within a given study. ere are several possible reasons for such large discrepancies within the total number reported. In addition to recognizing that not all individuals are willing participants or may lie to their surveyors regarding to what degree they suer from homelessness, another reason for the discrepancies is that of the accessibility of outreach to “qualied” homeless individuals. e degree to which homeless individuals qualify for survey participation varies largely by study. erefore there is a need to rst dene the word “ homeless” as it relates to this chapter.