A Scoping Review Examining Interventions Intended to Help LGBTQIA+ Youth Transition Out of Homelessness

Objective: Youth self-identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer, intersex, asexual, and other identities (LGBTQIA+) are overrepresented among the homeless youth population in western countries. Although scholars have documented the situations and events contributing to disproportionately high rates of homelessness among LGBTQIA+ youth compared to cisgender peers, researchers have not as thoroughly examined the efficacy of services available to this group to assist their transition from homelessness to stable residency. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the peer-reviewed literature to determine how many journal articles have been generated that addressed (a) the assessment of client satisfaction or (b) the effectiveness of intervention designed to help LGBTQIA+ homeless youth transition from homelessness to stable tenancy. Method: A database search of six peer-reviewed, health care publication indexes, with 50 key search terms was performed. The database search spanned publication years with no beginning year, but ended in January 2021. Results: Nineteen articles were identified that described programming, reported intervention outcomes, or outlined policies and recommendations intended to help LGBTQIA+ youth transition out of homelessness. Of the 19 studies, only five (26.31%) reported program evaluation (n=1, 5.26%), the assessment of intervention effectiveness (n=2, 10.52%), or an analysis of client satisfaction (n=2, 10.52%). Findings exemplify the dearth of scholarship and research examining this area of academic inquiry and public health need. Discussion: Without empirical research investigating service provision for the LGBTQIA+ homeless youth population, service providers have little data upon which to inform practice based on an understanding of the services that are needed and desired by this population to transition out of homelessness, the effectiveness and perceived satisfaction of those services, and whether services should be modified to better meet the needs of those for whom it was intended. Scholars and researchers are called upon to generate this needed public health research, which should include service recipient perspectives to target outcomes and interpret findings.

Helping Homeless Youth: Epistemological Implications of Power in a YPAR Project

Text from Nasma: 'I’ve started moving my things out of the house. I’m putting it in your office for now.' Thus began the story of how one of the youth I had worked with for four years on various YPAR projects became homeless and turned to me for help. Entering this crisis with Nasma took time and an emotional toll, and it affected the power dynamics of our relationship when finishing our YPAR project. Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) works to rebalance power in inequitable relationships based on roles, age, race, gender, etc. Providing care to Nasma as she confronted the traumatic situation of homelessness affected our collaborative relationship as she became dependent on me for basic economic resources. Through this process, the inequities in age and material resources between Nasma and me were centred, displacing the more equitable interactions that we had constructed through YPAR projects. This article employs critical autoethnography to examine the epistemological ‘risks of care’ and argues that the calls for ‘care-full’ scholarship still need to contend with the pitfalls of differential power dynamics in YPAR.

Lonely, Harassed And Abandoned In Society: The Lived Experiences of Iranian Homeless Youth

Introduction: Homelessness is increasing among young adults in large cities. According to the United Nations, there are more than one bilion absolute or relative homeless people in the world. This study was conducted to explain the lived experiences of homeless youth in southeastern Iran.Materials and Methods: This study was conducted with a conventional qualitative content analysis in Kerman, southeastern Iran, in 2020. The participant was young homeless adults aged 18-29 years, who were using homeless shelters provided by municipality, sleeping in parks or on streets. Data were collected through 13 in-depth and semi-structured interviews and three focus group discussions. Data were analyzed by Granheim and Lundman’s qualitative content analysis.Results: The main category of “lonely, annoyed and abandoned in society” and three subcategories of Aversion to society, comprehensive harassment and lack of comprehensive support were extracted. The experiences of young homeless adults showed that they escaped from community due to addiction, feeling like a burden to others and social isolation, and not only have they been left without support in society, but they have also suffered from all kinds of physical and psychological harassments.Conclusion: The lived experiences of homeless people show that in addition to appropriate facilities and living conditions, they require respect, reduced social stigma, discrimination, and favorable conditions for return to life. Therefore, authorities should identify and settle their problems and needs.

Voices from the Street: What Homeless Youth Think We Need to Know

While social scientists have attempted to become informed about the needs and realities of marginalized youth, rarely do they include their voices in these discussions. Yet, research suggests that listening to young people results in the development of more successful programming. The authors examined 30 years of youth writing to understand what program participants think they need. Focusing on youth experiencing homelessness narratives regarding “leaving the street,” the article identifies three themes to guide government officials and program staff in program improvement: (1) the process of becoming ready to leave street life, (2) the factors that cause setbacks to occur, and (3) the recognition of young people’s need for independence and concerns that impact program effectiveness. Finally, using their words, we present suggestions for policy changes perceived to be most beneficial.