The Role of Institutional Placement, Family Conflict, and Homosexuality in Homelessness Pathways Among Latino LGBT Youth in New York City

Abstract

Despite the overrepresentation of LGBT youth among the homeless, the processes leading to their homelessness are understudied. This ethnographic study sought to elucidate the role of sexual orientation in the pathway to housing instability among young gay men. Fieldwork included eighteen months of participant observations in public spaces and at a homeless LGBT youth organization in New York City, as well as formal semi-structured interviews with 14 Latino young men and 5 staff. Three distinct pathways emerged. Some youth became homeless after placement in state systems of care disrupted their social support systems while others after extreme family conflict over sexual orientation. Nonetheless, most youths became homeless as a result of long-term processes of family disintegration in which normative adolescent development and disclosure of homosexuality exacerbated pre-existing conflict. These findings suggest the need to examine the accumulation of risks before disclosure exacerbates family conflict and increases their risk of homelessness.

Homelessness and Housing Insecurity in Higher Education: A Trauma‐Informed Approach to Research, Policy, and Practice

“…One explanation involves youth being forced out of their family homes for religious or other reasons related to parents and guardians disagreeing with identifying as LGBTQ+. The disclosure of sexual orientation and identity often exacerbates family conflict that may involve other issues (Castellanos, ). Conflict and abuse often lead to LGBTQ+ youth getting kicked out, running away, or being placed in foster care (Castellanos, ; Hyde, ; Whitbeck, Hoyt, & Ackley, ).…”

“…The disclosure of sexual orientation and identity often exacerbates family conflict that may involve other issues (Castellanos, ). Conflict and abuse often lead to LGBTQ+ youth getting kicked out, running away, or being placed in foster care (Castellanos, ; Hyde, ; Whitbeck, Hoyt, & Ackley, ). These young people come from every financial background and may have little experience with social service programs.…”

Social Support Networks and the Mental Health of Runaway and Homeless Youth

“…Many are kicked out of their homes or leave because of family conflict or dysfunction (Bannon et al 2012;Castellanos 2016). Others find themselves homeless because of poor discharge planning or limited support services for youth leaving the child welfare or juvenile justice systems (Castellanos 2016;Dworsky et al 2012).…”

The Protection of LGBT Youth

“…129 Most of them ran away, not just because of conflict because they were LGBT but because of other structural harms-deep poverty, mental illness, substance abuse. 130 Our law and institutions need to reach beyond mere discrimination to address these deeper underlying causes before we can protect our LGBT children.…”