HUD says an outsized portion of homeless youth (40%) are LGBTQI+ , and it plans to address that group’s barriers to housing and shelter during Pride Month.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) launched a new LGBTQI+ Youth Homelessness Initiative that will partner with local communities, service providers, and directly-affected young people to address barriers to housing and shelter access for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) youth.
According to HUD, nearly 40% of all homeless youth identify as LGBTQI+.
Under the initiative, HUD will encourage communities to develop solutions to address the specific needs of LGBTQI+ youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability. For its part, HUD will provide technical assistance and training for shelter and service providers,
new informational resources highlighting innovative methods for supporting LGBTQI+ youth
Know Your Rights tools for direct-affected youth.
“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,” says HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge.
In the coming months, HUD will release a toolkit focused on best practices for supporting LGBTQI+ youth and new “Frequently Asked Questions” that provide clarity about complying with the Equal Access Rule and Fair Housing Act.
In addition, HUD plans to launch a regular training series for communities and providers committed to improving their care for LGBTQI+ youth.
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