In many major US cities, the stereotypical demographic of the homeless is changing quickly from the elderly to that of a younger generation. Old, mentally unstable, lazy, addict, and veteran are all words associated with the social stigma of the homeless. However, this stereotype is increasingly untrue, as the number of homeless youth continues to rise and an enlarging number of these homeless identifying themselves as a part of the LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender) community. With the rise in the young LGBT homeless population, consequently comes a slash of city’s finances to aid the homeless, leaving many without any source of aid. As the Center for American Progress reports, as a whole, about 5%-10% of the youth population in the United States identifies themselves as LGBT. Today, there is an alarming 1.6 to 2.8 million youth that are homeless, with roughly 30%-40% (320,000-400,000) of them hailing from the LGBT community. These staggering numbers...
