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SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, There are an estimated 25,000 youth in Illinois
3who experience homelessness in the course of a year, 15,000 of
4whom represent Chicago; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Approximately 40% of youth experiencing
6homelessness identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or
7transgender (LGBT), yet LGBT youth make up less than 7% of the
8general youth population; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Stable housing is not only a basic necessity to
10maintain health and youth safety, it also aids academic
11achievement, employment seeking and stability, healthy living,
12and positive adolescent development; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Homeless youth face many daily challenges such as
14lack of sufficient food, lack of access to physical and mental
15health care, lack of information and treatment of substance
16dependence and trauma, and lack of social support, and face
17threats to their safety and survival including violence and
18exploitation; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Many factors contribute to LGBT youth
20homelessness, the most commonly cited reason is identity-based
21family rejection; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Homeless LGBT youth face additional daily
2survival challenges, they also face additional obstacles,
3including lack of safe emergency housing that is
4gender-affirming and recognizes transgender identity, lack of
5social supports in their transition to adulthood, compounded
6discrimination and harassment based upon sexual orientation
7and gender expression, and vulnerability to human trafficking;
8and
 
9    WHEREAS, Reducing the disproportionate percentage of
10homeless LGBT youth requires our understanding of this issue
11and the ways in which we can each contribute to a solution; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Young people are better able to get the support
13and services they need when community members get involved in
14preventing and ending youth homelessness; and
 
15    WHEREAS, LGBT youth homelessness is a national and local
16community issue; finding solutions depends upon leaders and
17citizens in Illinois communities, including urban, rural, and
18suburban communities; and
 
19    WHEREAS, All citizens should become more aware of LGBT
20youth homelessness within the community, become more involved
21in its prevention, and support solutions to ensure that LGBT

 

 

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1youth have a safe, nurturing environment; and
 
2    WHEREAS, The True Colors Fund developed a resource kit
3identifying guided activities to raise awareness of the issue
4of LGBT youth homelessness and to build collaborative
5solutions; and
 
6    WHEREAS, April 29, 2015 will be the first Forty-to-None Day
7(aka #40toNoneDay), a national day focused on raising awareness
8about LGBT youth homelessness; therefore, be it
 
9    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL
10ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the 29th
11day of April as 40-to-None-Day (aka #40toNoneDay) in the State
12of Illinois and call upon citizens, government agencies, the
13business community, service providers, advocates, LGBT youth,
14and elected officials of this State to increase awareness of
15LGBT youth homelessness and to engage in efforts to end
16homelessness, thereby strengthening the communities in which
17we live; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That individual agencies are encouraged to post
19this resolution on their Internet websites; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
21delivered to each member of the Illinois congressional

 

 

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1delegation and to the Office of the Governor.