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Supervisors hear local and national findings on homeless LGBTQ youth; direct inventory of services and follow-up
Summary
The Rules Committee held a hearing on homeless LGBTQ youth, heard national and local data (Larkin Street and partners), received extensive public comment about gaps in shelters, foster care, and culturally competent services, and directed the legislative analyst to inventory LGBT youth services and recommend improvements.
Chair Supervisor Tom Ammiano convened a hearing on homeless LGBTQ youth and invited presentations on national research and local services. A representative from Larkin Street Youth Services summarized a joint report from the National Lesbian & Gay Task Force and the National Coalition for the Homeless, and provided local data: national estimates that 20–40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ; Larkin Street reported about 26% of their youth clients are LGBTQ and 2.4% are transgender. The presentation cited elevated rates of suicidal ideation (16% in a Larkin Street sample) and survival sex (about 34%).
Speakers highlighted gaps in shelter safety and cultural competence, barriers for transgender youth in adult shelters, and the foster-care system’s inconsistent protection for LGBTQ children. Jill Jacobs of Family Builders urged full implementation of AB 458 (foster-care nondiscrimination training component). San Francisco Department of Public Health staff described Dimensions Clinic and other targeted services and noted recent funding that expanded program access.
Public commenters—including youth advocates, service providers and clients—urged increased housing options, culturally competent shelter and services, tighter program monitoring, and streamlined intake for newcomers. Supervisor Dufty and other supervisors praised cross-agency collaboration and budget augmentations for youth services and the chair asked the legislative analyst to compile an inventory of LGBT homeless youth services and recommend policy and oversight improvements. The committee continued the matter for follow-up in January.
