Quality SOGIE Data is a MUST for Understanding and Housing Homeless LGBTQIA2S+ Youth
Isaac Sanders I June 24, 2024
According to recent studies, LGBTQIA2S+ youth experience homelessness at disproportionate rates compared to their cisgender heterosexual peers, making up 20-40% of the homeless youth population, while low estimates suggest they only account for 5-10% of the overall youth population. Our analysis of 2022 Household Pulse Survey data showed that more than one-third of young adults in the US identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer or Questioning. These discrepancies in population estimates reflect a lack of consistent and comprehensive data collection on the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) of youth experiencing homelessness, which makes it difficult to understand and address this critical issue fully.
Barriers to Accurate SOGIE Reporting
Several barriers can impede the accurate reporting of SOGIE data. LGBTQIA2S+ individuals may be hesitant to disclose their identities due to fear of being outed, facing discrimination, or having their information misused. This apprehension is compounded by a need for more precise policies and procedures in many organizations around safely collecting and protecting sensitive SOGIE data. When asked directly, youth may feel uncomfortable sharing their SOGIE status even if the agency climate demonstrates active support and affirmation of LGBTQIA2S+ identities through inclusive symbols, policies, and staff training. Discrepancies between youth self-identification and how they are identified in administrative data systems point to staff inaccuracies in SOGIE data collection, often due to discomfort, unfamiliarity with diverse SOGIE terminology, or personal biases. Policies and procedures around collecting and protecting sensitive SOGIE information must be improved. Achieving language-to-language translation of SOGIE questions can be complicated. Protecting the privacy and confidentiality of SOGIE data is a serious concern. Achieving consistent, accurate reporting requires ongoing training for all staff in SOGIE competency and data collection best practices.
SOGIE Data and Youth Homelessness Service Provision
Collecting comprehensive SOGIE data is crucial for understanding and addressing the disproportionate rates of homelessness among LGBTQIA2S+ youth. However, there are significant challenges in doing so within youth homelessness services:
Lack of Consistent Policies and Procedures
Many homeless youth providers lack clear policies and protocols around safely collecting and protecting sensitive SOGIE information. This can lead to inconsistent data collection practices across staff. For example, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has acknowledged the disproportionate rates of homelessness among LGBTQIA2S+ youth and the need to address this issue through initiatives like the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) and Youth Homelessness System Improvement (YHSI). However, with universal policy and procedure recommendations, counties can decide what works best in their community, which has had varying success.
Safety and Privacy Concerns
LGBTQIA2S+ youth may be hesitant to disclose their SOGIE status if they don’t feel the agency environment is genuinely supportive and affirming. There are valid fears about being outed, facing discrimination, or having their data misused, especially in unsupportive political climates.
Staff Training Needs
Ongoing, comprehensive training is needed to ensure all staff are competent in understanding diverse SOGIE identities, using appropriate terminology, and collecting data in an affirming, trauma-informed manner. Personal discomfort or biases among staff can lead to inaccurate SOGIE data.
Discrepancies in Self-Identification
Studies show significant discrepancies between how youth self-identify their SOGIE versus how they are identified by staff in administrative data systems, pointing to data collection inaccuracies.
To improve SOGIE data quality, homeless youth providers should involve LGBTQIA2S+ youth in developing inclusive policies, provide robust staff training, have strong privacy safeguards, and create an agency culture that actively signals affirmation of diverse SOGIE identities. Achieving valid data is critical to understanding and fully serving this overrepresented population.
What System Change Partners Can Provide and Recommends
System Change Partners can play a crucial role in supporting quality SOGIE data collection for youth experiencing homelessness through the following strategies:
Develop Clear Policies and Protocols
Assist homeless youth providers in developing clear policies, procedures, and standard operating practices for safely and ethically collecting SOGIE data. This includes guidance on:
Explaining the purpose and use of SOGIE data to youth in an affirming way
Allowing for self-identification and respecting stated identities
Protecting privacy and confidentiality of SOGIE information
Training requirements for staff on SOGIE competency
Having consistent protocols helps ensure that SOGIE data is collected accurately and equitably across the system.
Provide Comprehensive Training
Offer comprehensive, ongoing training to all staff at homeless youth providers on SOGIE identities, appropriate terminology, trauma-informed practices for discussing and recording SOGIE status, and understanding the importance of this data. Training should address personal discomfort or biases leading to inaccurate SOGIE data collection.
Engage Youth with Lived Experience
Involve LGBTQIA2S+ youth with lived experience of homelessness in developing SOGIE data collection policies and practices. Their perspectives are invaluable for identifying potential safety concerns, cultural taboos, affirming language, and ways to build trust around disclosing this sensitive information.
Promote Affirming Agency Environments
Encourage and support homeless youth providers in cultivating an agency culture that actively signals affirmation of LGBTQIA2S+ identities through inclusive symbols, messaging, policies, and staff behaviors. This can increase youth’s comfort in self-disclosing their SOGIE status.
Facilitate Data Sharing and Collaboration
Coordinate data sharing agreements and collaborative analysis of SOGIE data across providers to identify systemic disparities and service gaps for LGBTQIA2S+ youth experiencing homelessness. Use this data to inform coordinated strategies to address inequities.
By providing guidance, training, youth engagement, and cross-system coordination, System Change Partners can elevate the quality and usefulness of SOGIE data as a critical tool for understanding and serving LGBTQIA2S+ youth experiencing homelessness. Quality SOGiE data will lead to the system change we need in the homelessness sector to address our most vulnerable LGBTQIA2S+ youth and create a pathway to more positive outcomes for this population.
– Isaac Sanders