Why a Foyer in Philadelphia?

There are each year between 115,000 and 640,000 homeless and runaway L.G.B.T youth in America.

• The number of homeless and runaway youth ranges from 575,000 to 1.6 million per year*

• Between 20 and 40 percent of all homeless youth identify as LGBT. 
  

• There are an estimated 3,275 homeless youth in Philadelphia between 18 and 21 years old.

There are Between 650 and 1300 homeless

L.G.B.T youth in Philadelphia

• No Shelter and transitional housing organization addresses the specific needs of LGBT youth.

• LGBT youth who exit Foster Care are at particularly high risk for mental illness, depression, delinquency, and alcohol and drug abuse.

• The deficit in services designed specifically to meet the unique needs of LGBT foster and homeless youth creates significant barriers to success in these populations transition to independent living.
  

* Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Robertson, M.J. & Toor, PA 1998

** Source: National Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Task Force

***Source: Ray, 2006, p. 2