Perceived safety in community and service settings among young adults experiencing homelessness: Differences by sexual and gender identity

Abstract

Homelessness poses risks to the health and safety of young adults; particularly among sexual and gender minority (SGM) young adults. The current study sought to better understand service use and perceived safety in community and service settings among SGM and cisgender heterosexual (cis‐hetero) young adults experiencing homelessness. Data come from a mixed‐method, ecological momentary assessment study (n = 80; 43% sexual minority; 10% gender minority) in Los Angeles, California. Participants reported their current location (service vs. nonservice setting) and perceived safety. Multilevel modeling examined associations between identity, location, and perceived safety; qualitative interviews with 20 SGM participants added context to quantitative findings. Overall, service location was associated with greater perceived safety (β = .27, p < .001). Compared to cis‐hetero participants, cisgender sexual minorities (β = −.23, p = .03) and sexual and gender minorities (β = −.50, p = .002) reported lower perceived safety in service settings (vs. nonservice settings). Qualitative interviews revealed themes and subthemes detailing safe/unsafe spaces and interpersonal conflict in the community, and relationships with staff, peers, transphobia, and positive experiences in service settings.

Estrés minoritario LGBT+ sin hogar

“…Además, los jóvenes LGBT+ y sobre todo los extranjeros que provienen de países donde la homosexualidad está criminalizada, tienen más miedo a denunciar ante la Policía delitos de odio (Alessi et al, 2021). Otros Autores como DiGuiseppi et al (2022), señalan que existen diferencias en la seguridad percibida cuando se consideran las interacciones entre identidad sexual/género y lugar. Concretamente, los adultos jóvenes LGBT+ pueden sentirse relativamente menos seguros que los adultos jóvenes cis-hetero.…”

A scoping review examining patient experience and what matters to people experiencing homelessness when seeking healthcare

“…and gender minorities are disproportionately represented in youth homelessness [73][74][75] and experience higher rates of trauma 74 . The same minority groups are subject to increased safety risks, and report lower levels of perceived safety when entering shelters and services 74 . Cultural safety is an indigenous-led model of care that was born in New Zealand 76 .…”

Mixed methods in community psychology: A values‐forward synthesis

“…A study of sense of safety among sexual and gender minority (SGM) and non‐SGM youth exemplifies the usefulness of MMR with marginalized populations (DiGuiseppi et al, 2022). This study found that perceived sense of safety in different service areas was moderated by SGM identity—a finding that would likely not have emerged without a mixed methods design.…”