Did you know that LGBTQ+ youth have significant challenges?

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According to research by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development LGBTQ Youth Homelessness Prevention Initiative, the evidence on the percentage of youth experiencing homelessness who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender or who are questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity (LGBTQ) indicate that they are greatly overrepresented among the population of youth experiencing homelessness. Available survey data show that LGBTQ youth represent up to 40% of the approximately 550,000 unaccompanied, single youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in the United States.

Research also suggests that bias, rejection, and violence associated with coming out as LGBTQ, or questioning one’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity, contribute to this significant disparity. While homeless, LGBTQ youth are at greater risk than non-LGBTQ youth for traumatic experiences, including victimization, engaging in survival sex that often results in sexual assault, and school failure.