Opportunities in Community Hosting to Provide Youth Homelessness Diversion
Garrett Mason I March, 2025
Garrett Mason I March, 2025
A house is much more than a home. It’s family. And every family needs people who are affirming, caring, loyal, and inspiring.
Set in the 1980s, Pose is a dance musical that explores the intersections of various social and cultural movements in New York: ballroom culture, the rise of the luxury Trump-era universe, and the downtown social and literary scene. Centered around the LGBTQIA+ community, Pose follows the story of Blanca, a young Latina trans woman, as she forms a “house.” A house is a self-selected family that provides support to LGBTQ+ youth who have been rejected by their birth families.
Houses offer support in various ways. First, they provide a chosen family of individuals from diverse backgrounds who share the common experience of being part of the LGBTQIA+ community and the need for unconditional love and support. Second, houses create opportunities to compete in balls—events where members showcase their talent, fashion, and attitude while being judged in different categories. Lastly, houses offer stability to those experiencing housing insecurity by supporting their needs related to gender-affirming care, HIV/AIDS prevention, college and career readiness, and daily survival. For many LGBTQ+ youth, houses serve as a deterrent from unhealthy lifestyles, ultimately offering them a safe, affirming, and equitable path to sustainable living.
Set in the 1980s, Pose is a dance musical that explores the intersections of various social and cultural movements in New York: ballroom culture, the rise of the luxury Trump-era universe, and the downtown social and literary scene. Centered around the LGBTQIA+ community, Pose follows the story of Blanca, a young Latina trans woman, as she forms a “house.” A house is a self-selected family that provides support to LGBTQ+ youth who have been rejected by their birth families.
Houses offer support in various ways. First, they provide a chosen family of individuals from diverse backgrounds who share the common experience of being part of the LGBTQIA+ community and the need for unconditional love and support. Second, houses create opportunities to compete in balls—events where members showcase their talent, fashion, and attitude while being judged in different categories. Lastly, houses offer stability to those experiencing housing insecurity by supporting their needs related to gender-affirming care, HIV/AIDS prevention, college and career readiness, and daily survival. For many LGBTQ+ youth, houses serve as a deterrent from unhealthy lifestyles, ultimately offering them a safe, affirming, and equitable path to sustainable living.
Across all communities worldwide, youth experiencing housing insecurity share a common need: unconditional community support and access to sustainable resources. Many factors contribute to a young person’s disconnection from their original community—family rejection, identity struggles, abuse, loss, or a desire for independence. However, young people are not best supported when forced to navigate life alone. Community support steps in where systems fall short.
Even more important than simply having a support system is having a support system that reflects and affirms one’s identity. Community hosting is a strategy that allows individuals or families at risk of homelessness to be temporarily housed by members of their community—such as friends, extended family, or recruited volunteers—rather than entering traditional shelters. This approach helps stabilize their circumstances while keeping them connected to a supportive network.
Houses are a perfect example of community hosting. These environments provide youth with essential support, resources, and, most importantly, unconditional love. They allow young people to step out of survival mode and fully consider their authentic purpose and future.
It takes a village to raise our youth. Investing in community hosting programs and organizations expands opportunities for youth experiencing homelessness. Community hosting is an innovative housing solution that provides faster access to stable living arrangements, fosters social connections, and reinforces cultural and communal ties. By resourcing communities to sustain themselves with trust and unconditional love, these solutions help prevent homelessness at its root. However, they require funding, policy support, and advocacy to remain effective and accessible.
Ballroom houses are just one example of community hosting. For others, it may take the form of a church family, a home-sharing program, or another community-driven initiative. Regardless of the structure, these solutions highlight the power of community-centered approaches in preventing youth homelessness. Given how critical adolescence is in shaping one’s future, it is essential to empower and invest in these community-based solutions. Providing safe, affirming spaces for youth ensures that they are not just surviving, but thriving.
– Garrett Mason