5.7 Serving LGBTQ Youth through Equality and Inclusion Speaker: Andre Wade It is important that Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ)youth receive culturally-competent services that consider their unique trajectory into, and experience of, homelessness. LGBTQ youth have an opportunity for improved outcomes when programs provide interventions that facilitate healthy family connections, provide equal access and treatment, and foster their positive development by connecting them with affirming LGBTQ health and community services.

1. Serving LGBTQ Youth through
Equality and Inclusion:
Federal Policy
National Conference on Ending Family and Youth Homelessness
February 2012
André C. Wade
Program and Policy Analyst
awade@naeh.org

2. Serving LGBTQ Youth through Equality and Inclusion: Federal Policy
Purpose
People
Policy

3. Serving LGBTQ Youth through Equality and Inclusion: Federal
Policy
ACYF HUD
• Runaway and Homeless • Guidance to assist LGBT
Youth Grants individuals and families
• Permanency Innovations facing housing
Initiative (Efforts to discrimination
Reduce Long-Term • Equal Access to Housing
Foster Care) in HUD Programs
• RHYMIS data collection

4. Serving LGBTQ Youth through Equality and Inclusion: Federal Policy
Alliance’s LGBTQ Homeless Youth Policy Agenda
• Provide grantees with the tools and resources to effectively serve
LGBTQ youth.
• Improve data on the prevalence and incidence of LGBTQ youth
homelessness.
• HMIS
• Increase availability of federal resources

5. Serving LGBTQ Youth through Equality and Inclusion: Federal Policy
Best and Promising Policies and Practice
o Culturally competent approaches
o Services tailored to the unique needs of
LGBTQ youth
o Welcoming, inclusive and non-
discrimination policies
o Training requirements of staff