Addressing LGBTQ+ Homelessness
By Abby Leeper-Gisbon and Gwen Battis
Homelessness disproportionately impacts the LGBTQ+ community, particularly young adults aged 18-26. According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, LGBTQ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their non-LGBTQ peers. Even more distressing is that up to 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ, with 26% forced out of their homes due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
How Guaranteed Income Can Help
Based on our program data and community feedback, guaranteed income emerges as a vital tool in offering stability. It supports housing security and enhances overall well-being. To prevent LGBTQ+ youth homelessness, we must provide resources that foster stability. Direct cash payments, coupled with local services, can lift young individuals out of survival mode, empowering them to thrive.
Elevated Risks for the LGBTQ+ Community in Denver and Beyond
Even in Denver, the challenges are profound. Take Jax’s story, for example. A 34 year old Denver-based hairstylist was found dead in April, after being missing for a month. Violence against the trans and LBBTQ+ community is still hyperpresent. Jax’s mother, Cherilynne Gratton-Camis, commented, “It’s not just about Jax — it’s about all of you in the LGBTQIA+ community who face the world every day with courage, just wanting to live, love and exist safely and equally. That should never be a fight. And yet it is.”
Resources Available in Denver and Nationally
The Center on Colfax
The Center on Colfax provides crucial support services and advocacy for Denver's LGBTQ+ community. Visit [link to The Center on Colfax] for more information.The Gathering Place
This sanctuary offers refuge and comprehensive resources to women, transgender individuals, and children experiencing homelessness and poverty. Explore [link to The Gathering Place] to learn about their impactful programs.
Every LGBTQ young person deserves safety, support, and a place to call home. It's our responsibility to champion policies that safeguard them, fund shelters that cater to their needs, and nurture communities that are inclusive and compassionate.
