Erin Chapman-Smith, YouthCare’s Director of Over-18 Housing Services, recently spoke to a reporter from the Washington State Wire about the unique challenges faced by homeless LGBTQ+ youth and YouthCare’s work to support them.
“Some of the unique challenges that that population faces are that often folks are kicked out of their homes for their identity. We also know that trauma rates can be higher among LGBTQ populations. We also know that nationwide, LGBTQ young adults are disproportionately affected by mental health, chemical dependency, and sexual exploitation compared to their cisgender or heterosexual peers.”