The Consequences Of Homelessness In NYC

As a Newark resident and not being too far from NYC (which I believe has the largest homeless population in the country), homelessness is an issue that I sadly witness every day. Most people on the streets have a condition or situation that is rejected by society—mental illness, a physical disability, drug or alcohol addiction, or like in the case of the article, simply a different sexual orientation. It is unfortunate that even when society has become more open and accepting towards the LGBTQ community and a larger number of teenagers feel confident revealing their sexual orientation instead of hiding or fighting it, many face the rejection of their family and their communities, bringing devastating consequences like suicide and homelessness.
I was surprised to learn that the age in which some children are first disclosing their sexual orientation is as early as seven years old.
We have learned in class the many changes and challenges that adolescents face during this transition period, and being different in a way that it is perceived as negative by many, it adds to the stress, confusion, and emotional roller coaster that typical teens go through.

While shelters are a good response to the problem, the real social issue is larger than that. So, in addition to increasing the number of shelters, it is critical to attack the root cause of the problem and work with the families. This is when my role as a future teacher comes to play. It will be important for me to help families understand that it is possible to support LGBTQ teenagers even when they do not agree with it. Knowing that the youth’s safety, health, and lives are at risk will hopefully change priorities and help parents and other relatives find alternatives and support groups.