HUD Launches LGBTQI+ Youth Homelessness Initiative
This month, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) launched a new initiative to prevent and end homelessness among LGBTQI+ youth, which account for nearly 40% of all youth experiencing homelessness and is particularly high among transgender and Black and brown people.
“In the greatest country on earth, no one should have to sleep on the streets, and we know that the crisis of homelessness has an outsized impact on our LGBTQI+ youth,” said HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge. “This Pride Month, the Biden-Harris administration is illustrating our commitment to advancing equity in all forms and taking steps to ensure that our LGBTQI+ youth have the resources to find safe, supportive and affordable housing in their communities.”
As part of the new initiative, HUD will partner with local communities, service providers, and directly-affected young people to address barriers to housing and shelter access and to encourage communities to develop collaborative solutions to address the specific needs of LGBTQI+ youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability. Specifically, HUD will:
- Hold listening sessions with LGBTQI+ youth across the country
- Provide technical assistance for shelter and service providers
- Launch a regular training series for communities and providers committed to improving their care for LGBTQI+ youth
- Provide new informational resources highlighting innovative methods for supporting LGBTQI+ youth
- Provide Know Your Rights tools for direct-affected youth
- Release a toolkit focused on best practices for supporting LGBTQI+ youth
- Release new Frequently Asked Questions that provide clarity about complying with the Equal Access Rule and Fair Housing Act
This initiative is part of the Biden administration's strategy to prevent and end homelessness , which starts with a goal to reduce homelessness 25% by 2025 . For more on All In: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, click here. For more on how the Biden administration is supporting the LGBTQI+ community, click here.