Survey: Housing, education, jobs, drugs challenge poor gay youths

[kweerwolf]

The first significant survey undertaken specifically to assess homeless or severely poor gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youths in San Francisco has found that four fairly predictable factors keep them in economic crisis: a lack of affordable housing, education and accessible jobs, and drug use.

The survey, to be released today by the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center, also found that 31 percent of the young people who responded have turned to prostitution and 19 percent are selling drugs to support themselves. Fifty-three percent hold low-paying jobs.

The survey was conducted at community organizations, including the center itself and Larkin Street Youth Services, over the past nine months by four youths who face the same poverty and gender issues as those being queried, said Roberto Ordenana, director of community programs at the center. Ninety-three youths, ages from 13 to 25, participated. Some 67 percent of those surveyed live on the streets, or in shelters or transitional housing.

Ordenana said he believes the survey shows a need for counseling tailored to the needs of gay youths at city shelters to help them overcome discrimination and their own fears so they can secure low-cost housing, find jobs and finish their education. A new shelter specifically for gay youths might be a good idea, too, he said.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/01/09/BAG7OGK7441.DTL

[Jella]

1. my dream one day is to open a school

that will teach thrown away gay youth to be viable products of our culture.