LGBTQ homeless youth

I have just finished Ryan Berg’s book ‘No House to Call My Home’, a gripping account of his experiences as a case worker in a New York home for LGBTQ homeless youth.

In an interview about his book, Ryan points out that “forty percent of homeless youth in the US identify as LGBTQ but make up only eight percent of the population. Nearly half of transgender youth report having experienced homelessness at one time or another in their lives. Many get turned away from shelter or services due to their gender identity”.

So what can we do? On a societal level, the Ali Forney Center does some excellent work with homeless LGBTQ youth.  On an individual level, as Ryan suggested, often youths in the foster care system have their stories dictated to them.  Instead, we must work with them to help them to learn “to be the custodian of their own narrative".

Chris Warren-Dickins LPC
Psychotherapist in Ridgewood, Bergen County, New Jersey
T: (201) 779-6917              E: chris@exploretransform.com                               
W: www.exploretransform.com