Federally-funded transitional living programs and services for LGBTQ-identified homeless youth: A profile in unmet need

Adolescents who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) are overrepresented among runaway and homeless youth (RHY) and experience increased rates of sexual victimization, mental health issues, and substance use in comparison to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. Additionally, some sexual minority homeless youth experience discrimination in RHY programs, indicating the importance of services tailored to their specific needs. However, we know very little about the availability of these services, particularly in transitional living programs (TLPs). This exploratory study examines the services offered by the Family and Youth Services Bureau-funded TLPs in the United States-including LGBTQ-specific services-and examines the differences between programs that offer these specific services and those that do not. Participants (N = 124 programs) completed a survey by phone or email about their program characteristics and services; we supplemented the survey with an analysis of content on programs' websites and Facebook pages, including program descriptions, service availability, and LGBTQ-related content. Fewer than half (43.5%) of the participants reported offering LGBTQ-specific services; information regarding these services was minimally present on the agency's websites (20.2%) or Facebook pages (5.3%). These programs were more likely to be located on the West Coast or in the Northeast region, and more likely to offer counseling, support groups, and recreation or youth development activities. Our findings add to the limited body of knowledge regarding service provision in TLPs, and indicate high unmet need among this vulnerable population. We conclude with implications for social work research, policy and practice.