Kerry introduces bill to combat LGBT youth homelessness

from the Washington Blade

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) introduced legislation on Thursday aimed at mitigating homelessness among America’s youth — particularly those who may be forced from their homes because they identify as LGBT.

The legislation, known as the Reconnecting Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act, broadly addresses the issue of young people living on the street in addition to having provisions specifically related to the problem of LGBT homelessness.

“As a father, it’s a punch in the gut to imagine children living on the streets, but this year alone, one in fifty American kids will be homeless,” Kerry said. “There are common sense reforms we can implement to help make things better for LGBT youth.”

The LGBT-specific provision of the legislation directs the Department of Health & Human Services to develop programs to improve family relationships for LGBT youth and decrease their rate of homelessness. HHS is directed to conduct the programs for five years.

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According to a 2007 report from the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force, the number of youth who become homeless or runaway each year in the United States ranges from 575,000 to 1.6 million — and around 20 to 40 percent of them identify as LGBT. Given that between 3 percent and 5 percent of the U.S. population identifies as gay or bisexual, LGBT youth experience homelessness at a disproportionate rate.

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Who would call them in the event of a kid being thrown out? etc