LGBT
Homeless Youth
it's
bigger than u think
"While
the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force admits that no public
assessment of the runaway and homeless situation among LGBTQ youth
exists for metropolitan Atlanta, most studies suggest that a staggering
40%-56% of the overall homeless youth population self-identifies
as LGBT. In addition, the National Coalition for the Homeless ranked
Atlanta the fourth "meanest" city in the country regarding
homeless people in 2006.
A
recent census comparing the homeless population in Atlanta to available
shelter services showed a minimum shortage of 1,700 beds for all
single homeless people, which includes children and youth. CHRIS
Kids alone receives an average of one referral each week to serve
a LGBTQ young person, well beyond its current capacity.
Because
the Rainbow program is normally full, CHRIS Kids finds
homes for the overflow of homeless gay youth in its other group
homes and supervised apartment settings. The staff estimates
that 20%-25% of its total client population self-identifies as
a sexual minority." |