A recent study by Durso and Gates named four top causes for homelessness among LGBT youth
(1) Family rejection resulting from sexual orientation or gender identity
- Family issues were the largest reason LGBT clients were either homeless and or faced homelessness.
- Abuse in the family resulted in the youth facing homelessness.
(2) Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
- Four out of ten LGBT youth have reported being subjected and exploited in sexual assault.
- A third of the youth that was placed in the foster care system have reported having experienced domestic partner abuse, as well as having had contact with the juvenile justice system.
(3) Aging out of the foster care system
- At 21, youth age out of the foster care system and are no longer using youth services and have to transfer to adult services.
- Older youth age out of the foster care system become ineligible to receive state assistance with housing, food, and, medical care under the foster care system. These youth are also at a higher risk of facing homelessness, high unemployment rates, and low education.
(4) Financial and emotional neglect
Overall, respondents indicated that nearly seven out ten of their LGBTQIA homeless clients have experienced family rejection. More than half of their clients had experienced abuse in their family.
The most frequently cited factor contributing to homelessness was family rejection on the basis of sexual orientation. Almost 50% of the agencies in this study do not address these family-based issues.
