LGBT & Questioning Youth:

Competency in Housing and Service

Understand the pervasiveness of oppression, even in the 21st century, and how gender, race, sexuality and class intersect.

Begin to define “competency” when working with LGBT+ youth.

Provide data regarding experiences of LGBT+ youth who have been homeless.

Provide basic information about what you can do, immediately, that will begin to address the problems faced by LGBT+ youth.

Training often builds the competency of those participating, temporarily.

Agency culture and existing policies and procedures reinforce the status quo, which is highly resistant to change unless everyone involved (staff, volunteers, stakeholders, board) is invited to participate in addressing an issue.

Training is most effective when it is integrated into an overall agency goal, such as to build the foundation of competency in serving particular populations.

Exercise Discussion

What does competency mean to you, as a service provider?

What does competency mean to LGBT+ youth?

Identify the housing needs of the target population

Identify availability of and/or gaps in housing services for target population

Identify the degree of cultural awareness and sensitivity of current housing providers

Confirm suspicions that LGBTQ youth were experiencing prejudicial treatment in current housing services

Confirm absence of cultural competency on the part of San Diego housing providers

Gather evidence necessary to leverage appropriate public and private funding for the project

N=400

• Persons, between 12-24 years of age, Persons, between 12-24 years of age, who self-identify as GLBTQ+, and who who self-identify as GLBTQ+, and who are living outside of their home:are living outside of their home:• foster care foster care • group homesgroup homes• juvenile justice facilitiesjuvenile justice facilities• SheltersShelters• couch surfingcouch surfing• on the streets or in public spaces on the streets or in public spaces

anywhere within the area of San anywhere within the area of San Diego CountyDiego County

Psychiatric

45%

13%

17%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Psychiatric Diagnosis

Hospitalization

Juvenile Justice

64%

36%

No ResidentialPlacement

Residential Placement

Of the youth who had been homeless: 8% emphasized abuse as the

major contributing factor to their homelessness.

39% stated that they had been “booted out” of their home or placement because of their sexual orientation.

97% 95% 90% 85% 85% 80% 75% 35%0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Pan Handling

Couch Surfing

Dealing Drugs

Squatting

Odd Jobs

Dumpster Diving

Stealing

Survival Sex

Key Informants

20% of service providers reported that they had “never thought about” or “had no idea” how many of the youth they have served were LGBTQ+.

“We never talk about it”- Service Provider

90% of respondents shared that their agency did not have a policy regarding LGBTQ+ youth

“I think it goes back to that we don’t have a policy, we don’t have anything

in place except for, if if comes up, we’ll try to talk to someone about it.”

-Service Provider

100% of respondents shared that they had insufficient training regarding

the target population

“I think we should be really ashamed to be saying this, because we are social services, that we really are ignorant over what services are really out there for the gay and lesbian youth… with regards to the County themselves, I’m not sure of any programs that we actually do.”

-Service Coordinator

“I feel like we don’t do a good job.” -Service Provider

85% reported a general lack of knowledge about LGBTQ+ youth, commenting forcefully upon their

agencies’ poor performance with the population and lack of cultural

awareness

“I had a young lady who came and asked for services. I guess her counselor there…almost did that deprogramming thing with her.”

-Key Informant (referring to a faith-based

organization)

The Youth

100% stated that they often did not share their sexual orientation due to fear of judgment, retaliation, or refusal of services.

74% of the youth who did disclose believed that they experienced prejudicial treatment that included harassment, and/or threats.

““When I went to stay at (Name of Facility), When I went to stay at (Name of Facility), they told me I had to stay with the boys and they told me I had to stay with the boys and that I better take my dress off or the other that I better take my dress off or the other boys…they called me a boy…would kick my boys…they called me a boy…would kick my ass. I did it. But they wouldn’t leave me ass. I did it. But they wouldn’t leave me alone anyway. I had to leave.”alone anyway. I had to leave.”

-Homeless 17 year old TG M to F Youth-Homeless 17 year old TG M to F Youth

LGBTQ+ youth consistently reported that they did not feel safe accessing many of the services currently available in San Diego County

Per youth report, service providers encouraged them not to disclose their sexual identity, gender status, or HIV status to other service recipients

Many youth emphasized the need for safety

Less than 20% of key informants identified safety as a need

Definitions of safety: Youth: internal cultural

competency of programKey Informants: external

issues, such as location, threat of harassment, or “gay bashing”.

“It is unsafe (shelter), you can’t be yourself, there’s no association between them and you…you just move from one bad environment to another.”

-gay male youth

LGBT youth are estimated to make up 4-10% of youth population

LGBT youth are overrepresented in populations likely to be involved in state systems High rates of violence and rejection after

coming out 25-40% of homeless youth are LGBT

Abuse or neglect because of SO or GI Runaway/throwaway Status offenses (truancy, incorrigible) Grew up in foster care Abuse or neglect, not related to SO or GI

VICTIMIZED 70% LGBTQ youth reported violence based

on SO or GI while in group home DISPLACED

78% removed or ran away from placement because of hostility to SO or GI

SEGREGATED Segregated from other youth of same sex

PUNISHED Punished for expressing SO or GI Punished for engaging in behaviors that are

OK for heterosexual youth

CRIMINALIZED Classified as sex offenders Arrested for engaging in age appropriate

activities PATHOLOGIZED

Subjected to reparative therapy ISOLATED

Not allowed access to LGBT supportive programs

RESTRICTED Not allowed to dress or groom as they prefer

The needs of the LGBTQ+ homeless youth population far exceed existing service competencies and capacities.

Data from existing non-LGBTQ identified youth services agencies substantiate the reality of the barriers to care experienced by youth and indicate the overwhelming need for policies, training, and dialogue regarding the needs of the LGBTQ+ youth population.

Environment Language Knowledge of competent referrals

What environmental cues can convey competence is serving LGBT+ youth? Forms that collect information about gender

identity/expression as well as sexual or affectional orientations

Posters in your waiting room that embrace diversity

“Safe Zone” signs Policies that explicitly prohibit discriminatory

language and practices Visible enforcement of anti-discriminatory policies Rules that embrace gender identity/expression

and sexual orientation

According to social cognitive theory, language helps to shape our reality.

Effects of intolerant speech. Effects of inclusive speech. Appropriate pronouns.

Even if you create safe, competent environment within your own agency or workgroup, what do you do to ensure the safety and competency of your referral network?

Given what we’ve covered, what do you think your responsibility is, as a service provider, in serving LGBT+ youth?

What do you think is the responsibility of your organization?

What are next steps?