San Diego learned from the latest Point in Time Count, an annual survey of the homeless, that nearly 11,000 people are living on the street, in cars, and in shelters. The Regional Task Force on the Homeless also found that 30% of homeless people identify as LGBTQ.
Homelessness does not discriminate as the data includes people who are in their early 20s and into their elderly years, who are black or Latino, and who identify as transgender or non-binary. The most vulnerable are elders, minor children, and transitional youth aged 18 to 26.
There are common misconceptions about the homeless problem, especially about how it affects LGBTQ. Here are five that stand out.
“There are shelters they can go to!” With the wide range of services that are available in San Diego, shelter beds are full on any given night. In fact, all of San Diego County is 9,226 beds short. Services have been prioritized for special populations with the worst health issues.
Sleeping on the street has also been criminalized by our judicial system, and Gov. Gavin Newsom is cracking down on the homeless to make encampments illegal. He’s asking local governments to step up on the issue, which impacts the shelter system and displaces many onto the streets, parks, canyons, and other areas.
“But they’re just like other people. Why does it matter if they’re LGBTQ?” Being gay and homeless is a challenge in itself. You are at higher risk of harassment, discrimination, and assault for just existing in places where discrimination is rampant. And living on the street increases mental and physical health challenges, which can lead to early death.
Those living with HIV have a hard time getting back into care if they have gone off medications that are life-sustaining. Trans-women are assaulted or murdered and shelter systems lack the training to support them. LGBTQ youth who leave their families due to rejection are at high risk of trafficking for sex work within the first 24 hours of living on the street.
“Why don’t they just get a job?” Do the math on this one. San Diego is known to have among the highest rental rates in the U.S. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is between $2,661 and $2,964 per month. Landlords require good credit, 650 or higher, first and last month’s rent, three good references, and up to $60 for the application, totaling nearly $7,000. So a single homeless person needs thousands of dollars for a deposit, plus a job paying well over minimum wage, to afford rent and other expenses and get off the streets.
“There are programs that can help them!” Services for LGBTQ people are available, but many living on the street still need to find stability to prevent them from returning. Programs like Family Health Centers, The LBGT Center, and Townspeople help people every day, but resources are becoming exhausted due to the high demand.
San Diego has been trying to build another shelter or tiny homes project for years to combat the housing shortage, but development projects get shut down fast. Where are they supposed to go? The homeless can’t just click their heels saying “There’s no place like home!”
“There’s nothing we can do!” The city must prioritize building affordable housing and shelters specifically designed to meet the needs of the LGBTQ community. It’s not enough to rely on luxury apartments or halfhearted measures.
San Diego’s LGBTQ homeless population deserves safe, stable places to call home — spaces where they can live without fear, reclaim their health, and begin rebuilding their lives. Everyone, regardless of their identity, deserves a home.
Marcus Fisher is a community advocate in San Diego.
