A Scoping Review Examining Interventions Intended to Help LGBTQIA+ Youth Transition Out of Homelessness

Abstract

Objective: Youth self-identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer, intersex, asexual, and other identities (LGBTQIA+) are overrepresented among the homeless youth population in western countries. Although scholars have documented the situations and events contributing to disproportionately high rates of homelessness among LGBTQIA+ youth compared to cisgender peers, researchers have not as thoroughly examined the efficacy of services available to this group to assist their transition from homelessness to stable residency. The purpose of this scoping review was to examine the peer-reviewed literature to determine how many journal articles have been generated that addressed (a) the assessment of client satisfaction or (b) the effectiveness of intervention designed to help LGBTQIA+ homeless youth transition from homelessness to stable tenancy. Method: A database search of six peer-reviewed, health care publication indexes, with 50 key search terms was performed. The database search spanned publication years with no beginning year, but ended in January 2021. Results: Nineteen articles were identified that described programming, reported intervention outcomes, or outlined policies and recommendations intended to help LGBTQIA+ youth transition out of homelessness. Of the 19 studies, only five (26.31%) reported program evaluation (n=1, 5.26%), the assessment of intervention effectiveness (n=2, 10.52%), or an analysis of client satisfaction (n=2, 10.52%). Findings exemplify the dearth of scholarship and research examining this area of academic inquiry and public health need. Discussion: Without empirical research investigating service provision for the LGBTQIA+ homeless youth population, service providers have little data upon which to inform practice based on an understanding of the services that are needed and desired by this population to transition out of homelessness, the effectiveness and perceived satisfaction of those services, and whether services should be modified to better meet the needs of those for whom it was intended. Scholars and researchers are called upon to generate this needed public health research, which should include service recipient perspectives to target outcomes and interpret findings.

Keywords

• lgbtqia
• homeless youth
• housing transition
• intervention effectiveness
• client satisfaction