• Seven different studies of homeless youth in the U.S. have concluded that approximately 20 percent of
homeless youth are LGBTQ. This is disproportionately high when compared to the 10 percent of LGBTQ
youth in the general population.
• Youth consistently report severe family conflict as the primary reason for their homelessness. LGBTQ youth
report double the rates of sexual abuse before age 12.
• The major reasons homeless youth cite for remaining homeless include lack of affordable housing options,
incomplete education, inaccessible job market, and on-going drug use.
• Demographically, LGBTQ homeless youth are disproportionately African American or American Indian, and
often from low-income communities, and from poor or working class families.
• Studies indicate that once homeless, LGBTQ youth are at higher risk for victimization and suffer higher
incidents of mental health problems and unsafe sexual behavior than straight homeless youth. They
experience an average of 7.4 more acts of sexual violence toward them than their heterosexual peers and
are more likely to attempt suicide (62 percent) than their heterosexual homeless peers (29 percent).
• Discharge and emancipation from foster care is a big contributor to youth homelessness. Studies show that
12 to 36 percent of emancipated foster care youth will report being homeless at least once after discharge
from care.
• A national shortage of youth shelters and housing programs result in many youth being denied assistance.
Increased appropriations for Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs from $103 to $140 million would
help alleviate this problem by offering 7,000 more youth residential services and 200,000 homeless youth
crisis intervention.
• Several intervention models for homeless youth have proven effective, including early intervention and
prevention services, intensive case management services coupled with shelter or drop-in centers, and youth
housing models with supportive services.
* Information provided by The National Alliance to End Homelessness