There are many reasons why youth become homeless. It’s important to be aware of these reasons and to break down negative stereotypes.

Harmful Perceptions of Youth

•Don’t want to follow rules

•Drugs

•Lazy

•Delinquent/criminal

•Violent

•Bad parents

Actual Causes of Youth Homelessness

  • Housing Affordability

  • Poverty

  • Family conflict

  • Violence in home or relationship

  • Family/Youth mental or physical health

  • Family/Youth substance use

  • Rejection of sexual orientation or gender identity

Family conflict is one of the most common causes of all youth homelessness. For LGBTQ youth in particular, the conflict tends to be over their sexual orientation or gender identity.

While rejection is the most frequently cited reason LGBTQ youth experience homelessness, it’s not the only one. According to service providers, additional reasons include aging out of the foster care system, poverty, and conflict in the home. Often, it’s not one thing that causes homelessness, but a combination of many.

Graphics taken from www.truecolorsunited.org

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