Milwaukee LGBT Community Center partners with local agencies to form LGBT Young Adults Housing Initiative
Milwaukee, WI –December 4, 2009-, The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, Pathfinders, St. Aemilian-Lakeside, Inc. and Lad Lake have partnered to address the needs of homeless LGBT youth in the Milwaukee community through the formation of Q-Blok. The partnership is committed to not only developing housing resources for LGBT youth, but also for raising community awareness, advocacy and ongoing resource development for sustainable residential stability for homeless youth and young adults.
"The Center is deeply grateful to The Cream City Foundation, The Helen Bader Foundation, The Greater Milwaukee Foundation, and the City of Milwaukee CDGA’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for their generous gifts in support of our housing initiative," said the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center’s Director of Programs Julie Bock. “The funds Received will help us provide supportive scattered housing for 20 youth during the first year of operation.”
In addition to housing, The LGBT Young Adults Housing Initiative will provide case management services and will recruit and train sponsoring families that will provide support and guidance for the young adults to help them achieve important milestones.
Recent research conservatively estimates that 20% of homeless youth ages 18-25 are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT) while only comprising an estimated 4-10% of the general population. LGBT youth are more likely to become homeless because of abuse and rejection experienced in their families, placements, schools and other areas of their lives. Homeless LGBT youth are not only over represented among the homeless, but they are at greater risk of physical and sexual exploitation. They frequently trade sex and/or drugs for basic food, shelter and transportation needs. Furthermore, efforts to survive on the street or with transitory and unstable housing increase mental and physical health problems.
For more information on Q-Blok please contact Julie Bock, Milwaukee LGBT Community Center Director of Programs at 414.292.3070.
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