Gay Youths Find Place to Call Home in Specialty Shelters

[nam78_two]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/17/us/17homeless.html?ex=1180324800&en=bc48e4d6a1586cb3&ei=5070
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Gay Youths Find Place to Call Home in Specialty Shelters

By IAN URBINA
Published: May 17, 2007
DETROIT — One girl said she started living on the streets after her mother beat her for dressing like a boy. Another said she ran away from home after her father pulled a gun on her for hanging around with so many “tomboys.” A third said she left home after a family acquaintance raped her because she was a lesbian and he wanted to “straighten her out.”

Out and Alone: Gay Homeless Youth But gathered at Ruth’s House, a 10-bed emergency shelter for gay homeless youths here in east Detroit, they all said that for the first time they felt safe.

Ruth’s House is one of a small number of shelters for gay youths that have opened around the nation in the past four years, reflecting an increasing awareness among child welfare advocates of the disproportionately high number of gay youths in the homeless population and the special problems they face.

Five years ago, such shelters were rare, but now there are more than 25 nationwide.

Many experts estimate that while gay men and lesbians make up 3 percent to 5 percent of the general population, more than 20 percent of homeless youths under age 21 in many urban areas are gay, according to recent surveys of street youths and shelter workers published in peer-reviewed academic journals, and a study released in January by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Coalition for the Homeless.

Once on the streets, advocates and researchers said, gay youths may be avoiding group homes, shelters and the foster care system because they are afraid they will face violence and harassment.

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[nam78_two]

1. 4 Votes no messages?

:)?

[Sapphire Blue]

2. K&R; The January report: "Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth: An epidemic of homelessness"

New report reveals epidemic of homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth
January 30, 2007

DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT: http://www.thetaskforce.org/register_for_report

Download city-specific fact sheets at http://www.thetaskforce.org/reports_and_research/homeless_youth

Download the audio press conference at http://www.thetaskforce.org/files/audio/01_30_07LGBT_Youth_Homelessness.mp3

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 — According to a new report, Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth: An epidemic of homelessness, released nationally today by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in collaboration with the National Coalition for the Homeless, between 20 and 40 percent of homeless youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender.

Given that approximately 3 to 5 percent of the U.S. population identifies as gay or lesbian, these figures are grossly disproportionate. Nationwide, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, each year between 570,000 and 1.6 million youth run away or are homeless. This means that between 320,000 and 640,000 of these youth are LGBT.

Through a comprehensive analysis of the available research and professional literature, the report responds to basic questions, including why so many LGBT youth are becoming and remaining homeless. It addresses the harassment and violence that many of these youth experience in existing public shelter system, and summarizes research on critical problems affecting these youth, including mental health issues, substance abuse and risky sexual behavior. The report also analyzes government responses to youth homelessness and the specific impact on LGBT homeless youth of federal funding for faith-based service providers.

“It is a national disgrace that 20 to 40 percent of homeless youth are lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender. It is a further disgrace that federal programs that assist homeless young people have been pitifully underfunded. The Task Force calls on the president and the new Congress — as they begin this Monday to focus on the federal budget — to address the unmet social service needs of all vulnerable Americans. That means recognizing and addressing the epidemic of homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth,” said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

“This report brings attention to the dangers and inequalities faced by LGBT homeless youth, who make up a disproportionate percentage of the homeless youth population. It will enlighten the public on the needs of this traditionally underserved group and promote positive policy change at both the state and federal levels,” said Michael Stoops, acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless.

http://www.thetaskforce.org/press/releases/prHY_013007

[DarkTirade]

3. More than 25...

although we still have 50 states, so that's not a huge ratio yet.

[DarkTirade]

4. Oh, and k&r. :)

[OneBlueSky]

5. thanks for posting this . . . k/r . . . n/t

.

[bobbolink]

6. This is all so obvious that it's amazing to me it takes this long for "providers" to figure it out!

It's not like this is a recent development!

How many kids have to die on the street before people can see their pain????

How many gay kids have to kill themselves before we can step into their shoes, and take proper care of them?

Damn, sometimes I just dispair of the ignorance in this country!