In my experience, this is a common theme with transgender individuals who have spent time in Texas shelters. When thinking through strategies to support transgender youth, it’s important to understand that these youth may feel distrustful and avoid services, due to negative experiences they’ve had in the past. Challenges for Transgender Youth Experiencing Homelessness According to The National Coalition for the Homeless, nearly 1 in 5 transgender individuals have experienced homelessness, and transgender youth tend to spend a longer period of time being homeless than their straight, gay, lesbian, or bisexual peers.Īs part of TNOYS’ mission to promote equity, this blog post aims to educate our community on the challenges that transgender youth face when seeking out shelter and services, and provide guidance on concrete steps to support them. Sadly, these youth are often vulnerable to situations that lead to homelessness and housing instability. Here at TNOYS, we’re encouraged by the many providers in our community that offer welcoming, supportive homeless services for youth who identify as transgender. In researching this post, Alex drew from his own experience as an advocate, as well as multiple conversations with youth who identify as transgender and have lived experiences with homelessness. This post was authored by Alex Polk, as a follow-up to his previous piece on supporting LGBTQ youth.

Improving Equity in Shelters for Texas’ Transgender Youth