Three Things to Know About LGBTQ+ Homelessness in Arizona

This episode's theme: LGBTQ+ youth homelessness.

In Arizona, the rates of LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness continue to increase, while the ages they first experienced homelessness continues to decrease. This pattern is alarming to activists and leaves us with the question: How do we stop it?

In this episode, we're joined by Nate Rhoton, the Executive Director at one-n-ten. Gilbert Arvizu?and Jayson Matthews from Valley Of The?Sun United Way are also invited to the studio to discuss community development and engagement and initiatives that attempt to decrease the amount of LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness.

Nearly 50% of Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness Identify as LGBTQ+

The ASU Youth Experiences Survey found this data is bringing a major issue in the LGBTQ+ community to mainstream consciousness. According to Rhoton, this growing number could be related to the rate at which children are being rejected by their families when they come out. Rhoton explains that unique solutions are needed to aid this community.

Housing is Health Care

Valley of the Sun United Way wants to reduce homelessness by 50% by 2026. They also want to increase access to affordable health care by 100,000 individuals by 2026. One way they are attempting to do this is by making Arizona a "Blue Zone." This is a global ranking system that rates cities by their health data (like life expectancy and clean air). Blue Zones attempts to improve policy systems and build healthy environments with longevity.

Mid-term Elections: Voting for Housing and Homelessness

"Homelessness isn't always a popular topic with elected officials. . .but, affordable housing is on people's minds and in agendas," says Amy Schwabenlender?Executive Director of the Human Services Campus. "I think having a standard response as the collective of people working to address homelessness is important. When we can follow the lead of some of our advocacy groups like Arizona Housing Coalition, to really stay on the same page, otherwise it gets very confusing as candidates hear different ideas from different service providers or different factions of the community working on housing and homelessness. Trying to get on the same page makes it also a pretty constant job."

Watch episode 27 of the McQuaid Mission here.