Homelessness Among LGBTQ Community in America
DaToya Smiley
101 Introduction Of Social Science
Ryan Hoadwonic
University of Arizona
February 12, 2024
The issue of homelessness is common in America. However, some groups, like LGBTQ,
are likely to face the adverse effects. Today, the social group is facing significant threats,
including the homeless, mainly due to public sentiment and conduct. LGBTQ are vulnerable to
discrimination, low incomes, lack of support, low education, and other issues associated with
homelessness.
Amongst the LGBTQ community and youths, the cause of homelessness can be
attributed to various factors. Already considered a minority among social groups, discrimination
is likely to affect their ability to get well-paying jobs (Moses, 2019). This will affect their income
levels, which directly affects homelessness in the United States. Secondly, poverty is among the
key causes of homelessness in America. Poverty is the inability to meet all the basic needs,
including housing and access to food and other needs. Even though they may be working in
poverty, the inability to meet all their need and sometimes issues of income levels come into play
here.
The next cause of homelessness is the lack of support services and help from the
government, and incentives like housing, funding, and provision also lead to more homelessness.
In the country, the process of acquiring a house can be challenging since the costs are high, and
not everyone can afford to have one (Moses, 2019). Secondly, education level is a significant
issue affecting income and employment capabilities and benefits. As a result, those with less
education are likely to get low-paying jobs that may not meet all the basic needs, like housing.
All these conditions are likely to affect LGBTQ youths, thereby leading to higher
percentages of homelessness among this population. The issue of LGBTQ in America does not
get a good reception amongst certain communities, and they are likely to face rejection, biases,
and abuse from homes and communities (Voices of Youth Count, 2021). As a result, they are
likely to wind out of their homes in worse conditions in pursuit of freedom. This is likely to lead
to some of them ending up on the street or in poor housing conditions away from home. Due to
public discrimination and biases, the ability of known LGBTQ members to secure a job is
worrying nationally. Even if they secure the job, not all may get the most secure jobs to meet
their qualifications and profiles. Eventually, they are likely to face income inequality issues,
further affecting their ability to meet all their basic needs, including housing.
There are many cases of LGBTQ in educational institutions, and as a result, some may
not have the freedom to fully complete their schooling. Further, some are likely to have mental
health issues affected by public sentiment, which can affect their education levels (Voices of
Youth Count, 2021).. Since some of them may come from families where they are rejected, they
face significant issues like lack of school fees. Further, they also face significant domestic
violence, one of the main causes of mental health in schools. Due to their declining mental
health, their performance may not be the best. Some may also indulge in activities like drugs and
substance abuse to distract from reality. Eventually, the outcome leads to low education levels,
resulting in low income and homelessness.
As society is still divided into issues of sexuality and preferences, groups like LGBTQ
are sometimes neglected. Due to the neglect, most of them are unlikely to access social and
support services (Voices of Youth Count, 2021). Therefore, any attempt to seek mental health and
protective support from the government leads to no results, and eventually, most will end up on
the streets.
References
Biess, J. (2017). Homelessness in Indian Country is a Hidden, But Critical, Problem: Urban
Institute.
Moses, J. (2019). Demographic Data Project: Race, Ethnicity, and Homelessness (pp. 1–9).
Homelessness Research Institute.
Voices of Youth Count. (2021). Missed Opportunities: LGBTQ Youth Homelessness in America –
Youth Today. Youth Today. https://youthtoday.org/2018/04/missed-opportunities-lgbtq-
youth-homelessness-in-america/
