The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center on Friday was marked to receive a $13.3 million, five-year federal grant to expand its services to help homeless LGBT teens.
The center reports that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grant is the largest amount of federal funds ever awarded to an LGBT community organization. The L.A. Center plans to use the money to develop a new early intervention program for LGBT youth in foster care.
“LGBTQ youth who aren’t living on the streets because of a hostile home environment are often in the foster care system,” says L.A. Gay Center CEO Lorri L. Jean. “Many are rejected by foster parents and move from home to home or are considered unadoptable and live in overburdened group homes. In either case, they’re more likely to turn to drugs and crime, engage in unprotected sex, or commit suicide—and when they age out of the system at 18, they’re coming to us homeless.”
The center’s program will in part revolve around counseling, sensitivity training and mentoring, and nearly 20 neighboring agencies, including schools, social service agencies have pledged their participation.
“This landmark grant will fund the development of a much-needed, model program to protect the health and well-being of LGBTQ foster youth—a program that will save lives, save taxpayer dollars, and could be replicated in cities around the country,” noted Jean.
