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Q-Blok
Of the youth who participated in a voluntary study of youth homelessness in Milwaukee, 23% reported being Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender. LGBT youth are not only overrepresented in homeless youth populations, but reports indicate that while living on the streets, LGBT youth are at great risk of physical and sexual exploitation—at the hands of adults, police, and other youth. Transgender youth in particular are often harassed, assaulted, and arrested by police because of their gender presentation. In addition, LGBT homeless youth are more likely to report being asked by someone on the streets to exchange sex for money, food, drugs, shelter, and clothing than heterosexual homeless youth. Unfortunately, some LGBT homeless youth have experienced discriminatory practices and policies when trying to access homeless youth services. Q-Blok provides supportive scattered housing for 25 youth. In addition to direct housing assistance and case management services, this program recruits and trains sponsoring families that provide support and guidance for the young adults to help them achieve important milestones.
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PROGRAM FOCUS
Q-Blok also focuses on providing activities, educational experiences and direct connections designed to develop competent life skills and healthy behaviors. This includes relationship skills development; creating an ongoing support system; teaching healthy sexual behaviors; accessing community resources for physical and mental health; fostering continuing education; and acquiring job skills. The goals are as follows:
1. Focus on the housing needs of LGBT-identified young people ages 18-25 who are entering adulthood ill-equipped to achieve successful independence and self-sufficiency due to their histories of running away, homelessness, family rejection and abandonment, and societal prejudice, discrimination, and marginalization due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
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2. Address the need for family support and guidance by actively recruiting and engaging LGBT-identified adult community members willing to “sponsor” a young person and provide to these youth a positive, affirming, and healthy “family” able to offer support, encouragement, and guidance as they work to achieve identified milestones necessary for becoming successful young adults.
3. Educate the broader community as to the nature and extent of the problems experienced by LGBT-identified young adults specific to exploitation, homelessness, family rejection, and the ongoing and pervasive societal discrimination and hate-based violence experienced by LGBT young people.
4. Monitor young people’s progress on key outcomes and milestones identified as necessary prerequisites for their becoming successful independent adults.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Sponsor families and individuals are needed to mentor the young adult participants in Q-Blok. Adults are asked to make a one-year commitment to working with an adolescent housed by Q-Blok.
Minimum sponsor requirements:
• Be at least 25 years old.
• Reside in metro Milwaukee area.
• Complete application and screening process.
• Be dependable and consistent in meeting the time commitments.
• Have access to dependable transportation.
• Pass a criminal background check.
• Not use alcohol or controlled substances in an inappropriate manner.
• Not be currently in treatment for substance abuse and have a non-addictive period of at least five years.
• Not be currently in treatment for a mental disorder or hospitalized for such in the past three years.
If you are a good listener, patient, flexible, supportive and want to serve as a positive role model, Q-Blok would love to have you! Please contact Julie Bock at 414-292-3070 or jbock@mkelgbt.org
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COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS
Pathfinders, the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, St. Aemilian-Lakeside, Inc and Lad Lake have partnered to address the needs of homeless LGBT youth in the Milwaukee community. Each organization has proven record of successful work with youth and young adults. The partnership is committed to not only developing housing resources for LGBT youth but also raising community awareness, advocacy and ongoing resource development for sustainable residential stability for homeless youth and young adults.
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