Youth Homelessness
High number of children and youths in the United States experience homelessness challenge. The definition of ‘homelessness’ vary such as living in a location not meant for people to live to inadequate housing2. Homeless youth refers to the young children between the age of 12 and 24 years who are abandoned and have no place to call home. This group involves those who have willingly left their homes. In United States, about 1.7 million minors are homeless. In this population one of the overrepresented populations is the LGBT youth2. In this population, 5% to 7% define themselves as lesbians, gay, bisexual or transgender2.
Drivers of LGBT Homelessness
One of the drivers of LGBT youth homelessness is their sexual orientation and gender identity. In the current society, children move out of their families at tender ages and all if not a few encounter family rejection, or abusive reaction making them flee their homes. Despite the attempted support in such facilities as schools, foster care and juvenile justice facilities, the most tragic result of the LGBT youth is that while at their critical stage of development they find themselves in unsafe and poor homes2. Additionally, LGBT youths are also steered into homelessness due to their link to the juvenile justice and child welfare association. To a large extent an unbreakable cycle of homelessness is created when youth are released without any support in terms of housing or means to transition themselves into the society from juvenile justice and child welfare association. Entanglements with justice system play a critical role in driving youths into homelessness. LGBT youth while in justice system are likely to be labeled as sex offenders despite not involved such crime. In about states, individuals convicted based on these crimes are required to register as sex offenders1. This makes it hard for such youths to get employment which in turn causes poverty and homelessness. Based on the above research, it is clears that irrespective of location, locally or globally, the above variables stand as the major determinants of LGBT homelessness.
Failed Attempted Solutions to LGBT Homelessness
There are various interventions that have been taken to curb this problem but have yielded very little successes. These interventions include but not limited to the use of foster care system, child welfare programs and juvenile justice facilities. These system that are intended to assist the LGBT youths to a large extent have failed for various reason. First are incompetent youth clients2. Additionally, these programs lack sensitivity towards the needs of the LGBT youths as a result of institutional prejudice, inadequate cultural knowledge among the foster caregivers or discrimination. Additionally, lack of follow-up is also a major cause of failure of these solutions. After attaining the age of being released from foster care system, child welfare programs and juvenile justice facilities, there is no follow up1. Often, youths are released into society without any support on housing or means to transition in life. As a result, youths get themselves homelessness during their adulthood.
Attempted Solutions that tend to be Successful
LGBT homeless youth value services that are LGBT-specific. These include but not limited to LGBT-specific sexual health education, LGBT peer support and guidance programs and help on dating and relationship matters. Additionally, helping LGBT youth access to services linked to education and employment is a huge step towards curbing this problem. In this regard, about 29% of the homeless youths have received help in getting back to school and getting jobs2. This has yield good results in eradicating the homelessness among the youths.
Stereotypes, Biases, and Assumptions at Play
To a large extent, LGTB youths are viewed as criminals. For instance, they are associated with sex trafficking such as prior childhood sexual abuse, lack of caregivers and ways to earn income. As a result, such individuals experience aggressive encounter with police creating a misunderstanding with the authorities. The groups of youth are at higher risk of being arrested. The next stereotypical assumption that limits the study of this problem is that African American are the most affected by this menace2. High number of LGBT-specific program report that most of their youth clients are African American. Until researched and the result’s validity tested, this assumption could be having some biasness.
In my research, some of the assumption that could lead to biasness includes the assumption that LGBT homeless youth are mostly the people of color. Additionally, from the various researches, this group is often associated with crime2. The preconceived notions about social issues could have huge impact in my study since it would affect the validity of my hypothesis. The reason behind this is that I would to some extent concur with various researches. This in turn will affect the extent to which my results could be generalized. Sociological theories will be of great help to me in limiting biases. This will involve evaluating the different stereotypical assumption to determine its validity and establish the different judgments that are in fact biased. Additionally, I will use the taxonomy logics to assess whether the assumptions are biased1. Last but not least is the use of experimental approach. This will involve the use of behavioral modification approach and the impact of extrinsic reward on internal motivation. All these sociological techniques will be very helpful is ascertaining the degree of biasness.
- Alex, Wagaman M. “Promoting Empowerment Among Lgbtq Youth: a Social Justice Youth Development Approach.” Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. 33.5 (2016): 395-405. Print.
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning and 2-Spirited (LGBTQ2) | The Homeless Hub. Homelesshubca. 2017. Available at: http://homelesshub.ca/about-homelessness/population-specific/lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender-transsexual-queer. Accessed February 20, 2017
