Chair Farías: Current challenges for LGBTQ+ youth and elders
Farías details how nearly half of NYC's homeless youth identify as LGBTQ+, elders face discrimination in assisted living, and shelter staff often fail to honor gender identity in placements.
Today, LGBTQ plus individuals continue to face challenges in accessing safe, stable, and affordable housing.
Often this begins tragically early when many young people are forced to leave their homes due to family rejection or unsupportive environments.
Almost half of all homeless youth in New York City identified as LGBTQ+, and one in four have experienced homelessness or housing insecurity at one point in their lives.
But these challenges often persist throughout an LGBTQ plus person's life with
LGBTQ plus elders facing high risks of being turned away from or being charged or being charges higher charged with higher rents at independent or assisted living centers as nationwide 48%
of LGBTQ plus seniors experience discrimination when applying for housing for LGBTQ plus individuals the challenges don't end when they gain access to shelter services many experience discrimination harassment and even violence when seeking support furthermore
if staff are not equipped to serve LGBTQ plus people it can often lead to additional harm especially when staff fails to honor a person's gender identity and houses a person based on their sex assigned at birth rather than where the person feels the safest