The Needed Power of By/For Organizations in Ending Youth and Young Adult Homelessness
The movement to end youth and young adult homelessness is gaining significant momentum, with by/for organizations playing a crucial role in addressing the unique needs of vulnerable communities. These organizations, operated by and for the communities they serve, are particularly effective in tackling the challenges faced by queer, trans, and young people of color experiencing homelessness.
The Critical Need for Targeted Support
Traditional homeless services often fall short of addressing the unique needs of marginalized youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. These systems were typically designed with a one-size-fits-all approach, failing to account for the complex intersections of identity, trauma, and systemic oppression that disproportionately affect queer, trans, and young people of color. Many LGBTQIA2S+ youth, for instance, reported feeling unsafe or unwelcome in mainstream shelters, while young people of color frequently encountered cultural barriers and discrimination when seeking assistance. The lack of representation in leadership and staff often resulted in services that were not culturally competent or trauma-informed, leaving many vulnerable youth feeling misunderstood and underserved. This gap in effective support not only failed to address immediate needs but also perpetuated cycles of homelessness and marginalization.
By/for organizations emerged as a direct response to these shortcomings, created by community members who recognized the urgent need for services that truly understood and respected the experiences of marginalized youth. These organizations prioritize cultural competence, lived experience, and a deep understanding of the systemic issues contributing to youth homelessness, offering a level of support and empowerment that traditional services often struggle to provide. By centering the voices and experiences of the communities they serve, by/for organizations are not just filling a gap – they're revolutionizing the approach to ending youth homelessness, ensuring that no young person is left behind due to their identity or background.
The Unique Needs and Approaches of By/For Organizations
Approximately 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness each year in the United States. Among these, queer, trans, and young people of color are disproportionately affected, facing higher rates of homelessness and unique challenges in accessing services. By/for organizations addressing youth homelessness with direct, culturally responsive, and competent strategies that set them apart:
Lived Experience Leadership: Many of these organizations are led by individuals who have personally experienced homelessness or belong to the communities they serve. This includes but is not limited to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color serving organizations, LGBTQIA2S+ serving organizations, pregnancy and parenting-specific shelters, etc.
Cultural Competence: They inherently understand their target communities' cultural nuances and specific needs.
Trust-Building: Youth are more likely to engage with services provided by people who share their experiences and backgrounds.
Innovative Solutions: By/for organizations often develop creative approaches that traditional service providers may overlook. They also challenge governmental policy and practice that does not allow care attuned to the cultural backgrounds and experiences of marginalized youth and young adults experiencing homelessness.
Our recommendations for Working with By/For Organizations
While by/for organizations are making significant strides, they also face unique challenges:
Funding: Securing consistent financing can be difficult, especially for smaller, community-based organizations.
Scaling: Balancing growth with maintaining the personalized, community-focused approach can be challenging.
Collaboration: Building effective partnerships with larger, more established organizations while maintaining their unique identity and approach.
As partners in the work, you can:
Partner with by/for organizations on funding opportunities so that the privileges that larger mainstream agencies have are shared with organizations addressing the gaps in systems.
Create referral pathways that encourage partnerships to address the needs of marginalized youth and young adults seeking services.
Encourage and prioritize a database of by/for organizations to be used community-wide so providers know where to send youth and young adults who need more culturally competent and responsive support.
Make sure the database is collecting information from by/for organizations so youth and young adults accessing their services can be included in all services provided.
Work with by/for organizations on what questions need to be asked in intake and what way would be the least harmful.
By centering the voices and experiences of those most affected by youth homelessness, by/for organizations are not just providing services – they're leading a transformative movement towards a more equitable and inclusive approach to ending youth homelessness.
Isaac Sanders