News
2006-12-16
Study finds
thousands of homeless NYC youths are LGBT
A new report
shows that nearly 8,400 LGBT youths may be homeless this
winter. According to statistics cited in the study by the
A new report
shows that nearly 8,400 LGBT youths may be homeless this
winter. According to statistics cited in the study by the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute
and the National Coalition for the Homeless, 42% of
the 15,000 to 20,000 homeless youths estimated to live
in New York City are LGBT. Approximately 3% to 5% of the
U.S. population identifies as gay or lesbian,
according to a press release on the study.
According to the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, between
570,000 and 1.6 million youth run away or become homeless
each year.
The report's
findings were released at New York City Hall on Thursday by
NGLTF and New York City council speaker Christine Quinn. The
city council has made more than $2 million in grants
to groups serving homeless LGBT youths, the press
release said.
“This
study illustrates that the challenges LGBT youth face can
become so great that kids are left displaced and
homeless," Quinn said. "It is crucial that we provide
the resources for connecting these young people with
safe shelter, health care, and educational services. The
city council is proud to have made the needs of LGBT
homeless youth a priority, and we will continue our
work to ensure these young people get the services
they need." (The Advocate)
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