43% of Philly’s Homeless Youth Identify as LGBTQ

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It’s a staggering statistic that can’t be ignored: A January 2015 survey conducted by Valley Youth House, Covenant House, Project HOME, the Attic Youth Center, the Mazzoni Center, and more, found that 43% of homeless youth in Philadelphia identify as LGBTQ. The data has become a call to action, so to speak, for many youth service organizations in the region.

According to Valley Youth House, they saw the survey’s results as a “resolve to expand its services to meet the demand of this underrepresented group with programs such as a shelter specifically for LGBTQIA young people and programs specifically for transgender youth.”

“We are the only agency providing independent living support for homeless LGBTQIA youth in Philadelphia,” said Allison Moore, Regional Director for Valley Youth House. “Our Pride program provides rapid rehousing along with life skills, education, and employment support to about 50 young people act year, though the demand for services is higher than we are able to meet.”

The next “Youth Count” started yesterday at Valley Youth House, Mazzoni Center, and Access Matters. Today, the survey will be administered at Covenant House, the E3 Center, and Hip/Hop Waterview Parks, and tomorrow at Youth Service Inc., Youth Emergency Services, and Walgreens at Broad and Snyder. The results are scheduled to be reported by July 31.