SR0413 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0413 LRB099 12085 MST 34745 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, There are an estimated 25,000 youth in Illinois who experience homelessness in the course of a year, 15,000 of whom represent Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 40% of youth experiencing homelessness identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT), yet LGBT youth make up less than 7% of the general youth population; and

WHEREAS, Stable housing is not only a basic necessity to maintain health and youth safety, it also aids academic achievement, employment seeking and stability, healthy living, and positive adolescent development; and

WHEREAS, Homeless youth face many daily challenges such as lack of sufficient food, lack of access to physical and mental health care, lack of information and treatment of substance dependence and trauma, and lack of social support, and face threats to their safety and survival including violence and exploitation; and

WHEREAS, Many factors contribute to LGBT youth homelessness, the most commonly cited reason is identity-based family rejection; and

WHEREAS, Homeless LGBT youth face additional daily survival challenges, they also face additional obstacles, including lack of safe emergency housing that is gender-affirming and recognizes transgender identity, lack of social supports in their transition to adulthood, compounded discrimination and harassment based upon sexual orientation and gender expression, and vulnerability to human trafficking; and

WHEREAS, Reducing the disproportionate percentage of homeless LGBT youth requires our understanding of this issue and the ways in which we can each contribute to a solution; and

WHEREAS, Young people are better able to get the support and services they need when community members get involved in preventing and ending youth homelessness; and

WHEREAS, LGBT youth homelessness is a national and local community issue; finding solutions depends upon leaders and citizens in Illinois communities, including urban, rural, and suburban communities; and

WHEREAS, All citizens should become more aware of LGBT youth homelessness within the community, become more involved in its prevention, and support solutions to ensure that LGBT youth have a safe, nurturing environment; and

WHEREAS, The True Colors Fund developed a resource kit identifying guided activities to raise awareness of the issue of LGBT youth homelessness and to build collaborative solutions; and

WHEREAS, April 29, 2015 will be the first Forty-to-None Day (aka #40toNoneDay), a national day focused on raising awareness about LGBT youth homelessness; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the 29th day of April as 40-to-None-Day (aka #40toNoneDay) in the State of Illinois and call upon citizens, government agencies, the business community, service providers, advocates, LGBT youth, and elected officials of this State to increase awareness of LGBT youth homelessness and to engage in efforts to end homelessness, thereby strengthening the communities in which we live; and be it further

RESOLVED, That individual agencies are encouraged to post this resolution on their Internet websites; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to each member of the Illinois congressional delegation and to the Office of the Governor.