Pathways to homelessness for gender-creative youth

Glossary* of terms used in the text related to gender plurality:

Jules, a 14-year-old trans girl, has been sleeping on a friend's couch for several weeks. They are experiencing difficulties at school, both in the social and academic sphere, and have experienced episodes of violence at home that have exacerbated their emotional and identity distress. After several conflicts about their identity, Jules' parents asked them to leave the family home. This left them with a strong sense of rejection.

Jules' story is unfortunately not uncommon. It's part of a disturbing picture that emerges when we look at the realities of two-spirited, trans, non-binary, and gender-creative youth. Among these young people, those aged 13 to 24 are eight times more likely to be homeless than the Canadian population of the same age group1,2. Why are gender-creative youth more likely than cisgender youth to experience homelessness?

Youth homelessness involves challenges specific to their development and experiences. Young people are generally dependent on adult parents or guardians and may not yet have acquired the skills they need to be self-sufficient. They also have to cope with the physical, cognitive, social and emotional changes associated with puberty, in addition to the difficulties associated with homelessness3, such as lack of access to decent, affordable housing, health services and food resources.

"Youth homelessness refers to the situation and experience of young people between the ages of 13 and 24 who are living independently of parents and/or caregivers, but do not have the means or ability to acquire a stable, safe or consistent residence."

Canadian Observatory on Homelessness3

In addition to the factors usually associated with youth homelessness trajectories (e.g., family conflicts, substance use disorders and mental health problems1), young gender creative people are confronted with cissexist violence1,4. This type of violence from parents is often an important factor in their trajectory. Indeed, many gender creative youth explain their path to homelessness by their family's negative reactions to their gender identities and expressions4,5. Cissexist violence experienced in other environments, such as school, neighborhoods and online platforms, can also influence their trajectories.

However, the homelessness trajectories of young gender creatives are unique, complex, and multifactorial, meaning that they do not rely exclusively on the family context. While experiences of family violence and rejection based on gender identity and expression are a major factor for many of them, the factors associated with their transition to homelessness can manifest themselves along three social dimensions: structural, institutional and interpersonal1,6.

These dimensions can help us to understand how young gender-creatives develop and live within a cisnormative system that is not well-suited to their reality. They are especially important for becoming aware of the various forms of violence and discrimination that can occur, and that drives these young people to the margins of our society1,6:

The absence or lack of supportive interventions for young gender creative people on the part of teachers or parents undermines these young people's confidence7. They then doubt the ability of their families and schools to offer them help and protect them from the discriminatory and violent attitudes they experience. As a result, they gradually stop relying on the support of adults around them. Creative young people become alienated from their families and schools5, which gradually deprives them of emotional and material support, as well as help in crisis situations. In addition to the increased risk of homelessness, the difficulties created by this cissexist system make them vulnerable to psychological distress (e.g., depression or anxiety) as well as suicide8. 

Family rejection can be a devastating experience for young people in search of an identity. It draws them away from the support network they need to start a healthy, balanced, and stable adult life9. This reality underlines the importance of recognizing the behaviours, attitudes and words that foster alienation10, as well as the need to actively engage in the fight against cissexism. Here are just a few examples of behaviors that are harmful to young gender-creative people10:

• Showing to the young person a feeling of shame towards their identity.

• Invalidating the young person's experience: “It's just a phase, a trend”.

• Controlling gender expression through clothing, make-up, or hairstyle.

• Mocking, insulting, and ridiculing the young person's gender identity or expression, or that of others in front of the young person.

• Physically injuring the young person.

• Not respecting the young person's chosen first names and pronouns.

• Compelling the young person to change their gender identity or expression.

• Limiting access to support or support groups that can help the young person.

• To expel the young person from the home because of their identity.

• Supporting the young person only if they meet certain requirements and withdraw support if the young person does not meet these requirements, for example in terms of dress code or circle of friends.

These cissexist behaviors and attitudes can sometimes manifest themselves insidiously in a variety of environments, particularly within families. While these actions and words may be intended to protect and educate their children10, it's important to recognize that they can have negative physical, psychological, interpersonal, and material impacts on gender non-conforming youth.

The family environment plays a crucial role in creating and maintaining a safe and stable space for creative young people. The family can have the potential to become an essential safety net for the protection of young people, but also a source of understanding and love that fosters the development of their resilience7,11. To achieve this, families need to be supported by adequate resources.

Institutions, such as schools and homelessness organizations, need to take steps to raise awareness and promote the diversity of gender identities and expressions, and to recognize gender-based violence and its impacts11,12. This recognition is essential for the development of policies and resources that better protect gender-creative youth13. In addition, it is important that teachers and caregivers receive appropriate training to support young people and their families4. These initiatives can improve collaboration with parents and equip them with the skills they need to notice and identify signs of distress and discrimination in their children5,14.

An inclusive, gender-affirmative and well-resourced family environment can provide spaces of acceptance or refuges where young people can develop and express themselves freely and safely7. Developing this resilience helps to buffer the impact of negative experiences, support the healthy and proud development of one’s identity, and reduce psychological distress and the risk of homelessness7,11,12.

Preventive action must be taken in all dimensions, without neglecting the young people that are currently experiencing homelessness. We need to promote the dissemination of knowledge about their realities, and encourage the creation of services tailored to the specific needs of gender-creative young people1,4,5,6,13. By working together, families, institutions and society can foster the development and resilience of gender-creative youth, and thus prevent trajectories of homelessness.

* For more information on terms related to LGBTQ+ realities, see 2SLGBTQI Terms and Definitions and other gender and attraction diversity terminology.

Educational resources for parents, teachers and caregivers:

Gris Montréal

• Source of information, knowledge mobilization and educational activities for schools.

Families in TRANSition: a ressource guide for families of transgender youth, by Central Toronto Youth Services

• Information on trans-affirmative interventions and approaches for parents.

2SLGBTQIA+ Toolkit to Support Youth Experiencing Homelessness

• Information and tools on inclusive practices for organizations and resources of youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The transgender child: a handbook for families and professionals, by Brill and Pepper15

• Information on inclusive and transaffirmative parenting practices.

Support resources for young people:

Interligne: Telephone: 514 866-0103 Text: 1 888 505-1010 

• Helpline and information services for sexually and gender-diverse people and their loved ones.

Gender Creative Kids 

• Transinclusive services and resources for young people aged 7 to 14 and their families.

Project 10: Telephone: 514 989-0001

• Support services and resources for 2LGBTQ+ youth 14-25.

Jeunesse Lambda: Telephone: 514 543-6343

• Awareness, support and sharing platform by and for sexually and gender-diverse youth.

Alterhéros: Telephone: 438 830-4376

• Awareness, support and sharing platform for sexually and gender-diverse youth.

Cactus Montréal: GIAP and ASTT(e)Q

• Support services for homeless youth and trans people.

ATQ: Telephone: 1 855 909-9038 #1

• Listening and intervention line for trans and non-binary people.

Dans la rue: At pops

• Shelter and resource center for young people in precarious situations.

Auberges du cœur: 

Shelters for troubled and homeless youth.

This article was written as part of the Adult Victims of Childhood Abuse course taught by Natacha Godbout, director of TRACE, at UQAM in the fall of 2023.  The publication of this article was made possible thanks to our partner, the Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Intimate Relationship Problems and Sexual Abuse (CRIPCAS), and the Fonds de recherche du Québec. 

To cite this article: Dulude, A. & Duford, J. (2024, August 5). Pathways to homelessness for gender-creative youth. TRACE Blog. https://natachagodbout.com/en/blog/pathways-homelessness-gender-creativ…

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• 2Statistics Canada (2021). Recensement de la population. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/220427/cg-b001-eng.htm
• 3a3bCanadian Observatory on Homelessness (2016). Canadian Definition of Youth Homelessness. https://www.homelesshub.ca/resource/canadian-definition-youth-homelessness
• 4a4b4c4dShelton, J., & Bond, L. (2017). “It just never worked out”: How transgender and gender expansive youth understand their pathways into homelessness. Families in Society, 98(4), 284-291. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.2017.98.33
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• 7a7b7c7dPullen-Sansfaçon A., & Medico-Vergriete, D. (2021). Jeunes trans et non binaires : de l’accompagnement à l’affirmation. Les Éditions du Remue-ménage.
• 8Wang, Y. C., Hoatson, T., Stamoulis, C., Herman, J., Reisner, S. L., Meyer, I. H., & Katz-Wise, S. L. (2024). Psychological distress and suicidality among transgender young adults in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health, 74(6), 1095–1105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.11.004
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• 13a13bDuford, J. (2019). Pratiques d’ouverture envers les jeunes LGBTQIA2S en situation d’itinérance: guide destiné aux organismes d’aide en itinérance ou qui œuvrent auprès de personnes à risque d’itinérance. Coalition des groupes jeunesse LGBTQ+. https://bv.cdeacf.ca/documents/PDF/61716.pdf
• 14Duford, J., Blais, M., Smith, K., & Hébert, M. (2023). La polyvictimisation et la détresse psychologique comme médiateurs de la fugue chez les jeunes de minorités sexuelles. Revue canadienne des sciences du comportement, 55(4), 273-284. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cbs0000351
• 15Brill, S., & Pepper, R. (2022). The transgender child: A handbook for parents and professionals supporting transgender and nonbinary children. Cleis Press.