Homelessness and Unmet Service Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning (LGBTQ) Youth in Central New York

Description

Research indicates that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer-identified (LGBTQ) youth are at greater risk of homelessness than their heterosexual peers, and are more likely to leave home as the result of physical abuse, often because of conflicts with parents about sexual orientation. Most of the research done on homeless LGBTQ youth has been done in large cities, providing little information about the unique experiences and needs of homeless LGBTQ youth in smaller cities and surrounding suburban and rural areas. In 2013, several community agencies contacted university researchers about the growing problem of homelessness among LGBTQ youth in the nine-county CNY area. In response to this outreach, the researchers have collaborated with these agencies to form a community working group and to design the current study to assess community needs surrounding homeless LGBTQ youth.