June 18, 2025
June is Pride Month: Homelessness and the LGBTQ+ Identity
Why Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless Celebrates Pride
At Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH), we celebrate Pride to reflect on and honor the resilience and strength of LGBTQ+ communities—especially those living at the intersection of marginalization and homelessness. Pride is more than a celebration; it’s a commitment to access, inclusion, and systemic change for LGBTQ+ individuals who continue to face profound disparities in health, housing, and safety. At AHCH we honor and thank the LGBTQ+ individuals who have championed human rights and contributed to a more just future in spite of these disparities.
For people experiencing homelessness, LGBTQ+ identity can bring additional layers of stigma and vulnerability. Every day, we meet people navigating not only the trauma of homelessness but also the pain of rejection, discrimination, and violence. We are here to meet them with dignity, affirm their identities, and provide the care they deserve.
Homelessness and LGBTQ+ Identity: The Data
Nationally, LGBTQ+ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. According to a 2023 report from the Williams Institute at UCLA, approximately 28% of LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives—compared to 14% of the general population.
For transgender individuals, the numbers are even starker: nearly 1 in 3 transgender people report having been unhoused at some point.Many are turned away from shelters or forced into unsafe environments that don’t recognize their gender identity. Transgender women, especially women of color, face disproportionate rates of violence and harassment—both on the streets and in institutional settings.
These numbers are not accidents. They are symptoms of systemic discrimination. Family rejection, employment and housing discrimination, and violence—especially against Black and Brown trans women—are driving LGBTQ+ people into poverty and onto the streets at alarming rates.
Discrimination Is a Health Issue
Discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals is not just a social issue—it’s a public health crisis. LGBTQ+ people face higher rates of chronic illness, mental health challenges, and substance use, often rooted in trauma and compounded by barriers to care.
-LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal ideation.
-They face higher rates of chronic illnesses, including heart disease and diabetes, due to stress and limited access to preventative care.
-Many avoid seeking health care out of fear of discrimination or mistreatment.
-Housing discrimination remains widespread. With difficulties finding and maintaining suitable housing, LGBTQ+ people experience higher rates of housing insecurity and exposure to violence.
Transgender individuals face particularly steep barriers. Nearly 50% report mistreatment by medical providers, including refusal of care, misgendering, or harassment. This lack of affirming health care contributes to worsening health outcomes and deepens mistrust in the system.
A Place to Be Seen—and Cared For
At AHCH, we offer comprehensive, trauma-informed services that affirm people’s identities and experiences. This includes:
-Medical, dental, and behavioral health care.
-Mental health support that acknowledges LGBTQ+ trauma.
-Case management that addresses housing and safety.
-Support connecting to LGBTQ+ resources, communities, and specialty services.
Our Pride, Our Commitment
Celebrating Pride at AHCH is about more than showing up to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community once a year in June–it’s about doing the work alongside LGBTQ+ community members 365 days a year. That means:
-Leading Boldly and disrupting the systems that perpetuate homelessness and discrimination.
-Providing high-quality health care to all who need it.
-Raising voices for policies that protect LGBTQ+ individuals in housing, employment, and health care.
-Creating a safe, welcoming environment for all clients and staff—regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
As we reflect on Pride this year, we reaffirm our commitment to healing, human rights, and compassion. We envision a community where no one has to choose between being themselves and having the resources and means to live autonomous and fulfilled lives. Together, we can build a future that honors the full humanity of every person—because everyone deserves to be seen, heard, and housed.
Sources:
- Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago. (2017). Missed Opportunities: Youth Homelessness in America. Retrieved from https://www.chapinhall.org/research/voices-of-youth-count/
- The Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law. (2020). LGBT People and Housing Affordability, Discrimination, and Homelessness. Retrieved from https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/lgbt-homelessness/
- National Center for Transgender Equality. (2015). The U.S. Transgender Survey. Retrieved from https://transequality.org/issues/us-trans-survey
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). LGBT Health. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/
- Center for American Progress. (2020). Discrimination Against Transgender People in Housing and Homeless Shelters. Retrieved from https://www.americanprogress.org/article/discrimination-against-transgender-people-in-housing-and-homeless-shelters/
- The Trevor Project. (2023). 2023 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2023/
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