The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development kicked off an initiative to combat LGBTQI+ youth homelessness.
The initiative will work with local communities, service providers and youth directly impacted by homelessness to remove hurdles to securing housing and shelter to youth identifying as LGBTQI+, according to a June 8 news release.
“In the greatest country on earth, no one should have to sleep on the streets – and we know that the crisis of homelessness has an outsized impact on our LGBTQI+ youth,” HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge said in the news release. “This Pride Month, the Biden-Harris administration is illustrating our commitment to advancing equity in all forms and taking steps to ensure that our LGBTQI+ youth have the resources to find safe, supportive and affordable housing in their communities.”
In an effort to address the needs of LGBTQI+ youth, HUD noted it is urging communities to work together to seek solutions, the release said. The program is offering these youths the help and education they need to know what their rights are, along with training and technical assistance for service providers to ensure they can support the LGBTQI+ youth.
Moreover, the department added it will conduct “listening sessions” with LGBTQI+ youth nationwide to provide information for the program, according to the release. HUD also will publish FAQs to highlight the path to complying with the Equal Access Rule and Fair Housing Act, as well as a toolkit to help stakeholders provide the best service to LGBTQI+ youth.
The inequalities are more stark among Black and brown youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex (LGBTQI+), with that demographic making up nearly 40% of all homeless youth, the release reported.
HUD will also conduct training sessions for any organization or group that is focusing on improving care opportunities for LGBTQI+ youth, the release said.
Last year, Fudge and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness rolled out House America, a nationwide effort driving collaboration with 105 communities, spearheaded by county leaders, mayors governors and Tribal Nation leaders to provide housing for more than 100,000 homeless families and create up to 40,000 units of affordable housing, the release said.
