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Issues in Trans Justice: Homelessness and Poverty

Transgender, genderqueer and gender non-conforming people, especially youth, are drastically overrepresented in homeless populations. The unique struggles and pervasive, institutionalized discrimination transpeople face often lock them into cycles of poverty and homelessness.

Discrimination & Access to Services

·        A lack of identification or ID that does not match a person’s gender presentation often blocks access to education, jobs, safe spaces, services—and even housing.

·        Limited access to medical care and fear of discrimination from healthcare providers block many transpeople from transition-related care including hormones and counseling as well as general health needs.  That leaves transpeople to pay tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills out of pocket—which is prohibitively expensive for just about anyone.

·        The costs of transition-related care, economic discrimination and un/underemployment leave many transpeople unable to afford care/services.

Homelessness & Increased Risk:

·        Survival crimes such as theft, selling drugs and sex work put transpeople’s health and physical safety at risk.

·        Many transpeople face high rates of addiction, depression, anxiety, suicide, and self-harm.

·        Transpeople unable to access medical care may turn to purchasing hormones on the street, increasing health risks

·        A lack of affordable housing, housing discrimination and estrangement from their families leave many transpeople homeless

·        Many direct service organizations including shelters have sex-specific guidelines for intake and care. Transwomen may be placed with men and transmen with women. Others may deny services to transpeople altogether or require proof of surgery.

·        In gender-segregated shelters, transpeople may face problems with gender-specific dress codes as well as access to gendered spaces such as restrooms and showers

·        Shelters that adhere to a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding sexual identities may ask members of the GLBT community to leave to avoid conflict. Transpeople unable to discuss their identities are unlikely to get the support they need.

Even within gay communities and the service sector, transpeople face social stigma, hostility, isolation and alienation. There is a clear lack of research into the needs of transgender individuals and few trans-specific service organizations. In addition, transpeople still lack basic legal protections in many areas. Transpeople who are homeless or are members of other minorities groups face multiple layers of discrimination, often preventing them from seeking any help.

Portland has extensive services available for homeless people and requires equal treatment of transpeople. To read more about the work being done to promote trans-inclusive shelters and services in other areas, check out the links below.

Resources:

The Task Force: Homeless Youth

The Task Force: Transitioning Our Shelters

National Center for Transgender Equality: Homelessness and the Trans Community

Sylvia Rivera Law Project: Systems of Inequality

In Portland:

Multnomah County: Homeless Youth Continuum of Care
SMYRC
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