Helping 2SLGBTQAI+ Youth Find Community
The #CHVCatchUp is a monthly series featuring the latest updates and news from Covenant House Vancouver. Miss604 is proud to be the Official Blog Partner of CHV.
The Challenges Covenant House Vancouver Sees
- Canada is home to 1.3 million 2SLGBTQAI+ people
- 10.5% of the Canadian population is made up of 2SLGBTQAI youth, age 15–24
According to a 2022 study:
- 2SLGBTQAI+ individuals are overrepresented in the homeless population, at 13%, despite only representing 4% of Canada’s population
- Mental health issues or conflict with parent/guardian were cited as reasons for homelessness, by 2SLGBTQAI+ individuals
Covenant House Vancouver (CHV) supports all youth, age 16–24, who are at risk of, or are experiencing, homelessness and/or human trafficking.
A social worker at CHV has shared their observations and experiences they’ve seen 2SLGBTQAI+ youth endure.
Q: Why do 2SLGBTQAI+ youth struggle with stable accommodation?
A: “I would say the most common reason is due to their families not being accepting of who they are as human beings. Many youth have come to us from abusive family dynamics where their families do not respect or accept their sexuality or gender identity and it has become extremely unsafe either physically, mentally, spiritually, or emotionally for them to continue to live in that environment.”
Q: Are there societal stigmas that prevent this community from finding employment, housing, food and other essentials?
A: “Absolutely. I especially notice that when a young person expresses themselves through their clothing, hair, and accessories that they are perceived in a certain way, so the prejudice exists before they can even have a conversation with someone. The danger that these stigmas create comes from the continued placing of queer youth in a box with very little options, opportunities, or understanding.”
Q: Do you find that youth from this community face hatred, violence, and prejudice more than other youth?
A: “Yes. I think that when there is a lack of education, or a lack of willingness to understand and accept individuals for who they are, we continue to perpetuate these harmful stereotypes, while we inflict hatred, violence, and prejudice.”
Q: What would you like the public to know about the young people from the 2SLGBTQAI+ community?
A: “The 2SLGBTQAI+ youth we serve truly are some of the most remarkable and resilient individuals that I have ever worked with. While working against systemic barriers, like all of the youth do, they are also working against additional societal barriers.”
CHV Alum: Christine
Being a member of the 2SLGBTQAI+ community is a punishable crime in Uganda. Being a vocal advocate for this community, Christine spent time in jail. Fearing that this, or something worse, could happen to her again, her mother brought Christine to Canada and left her here, for her own safety.
Christine’s mental health suffered for many reasons: not being allowed to be her true self; being abandoned in a foreign country; and not understanding what mental health was. “In Uganda, you didn’t talk about mental health. If you had a problem, you buried it deep within yourself. We didn’t talk about it. I didn’t have any language whatsoever around my mental health or even my emotional well-being.”
How Covenant House Vancouver Supports 2SLGBTQAI+ Youth
CHV’s trauma-informed, resilience-focused approach ensures that their staff are equipped with the knowledge and sensitivity needed to support 2SLGBTQAI+ individuals.
CHV offer a variety of support services such as counselling, mental health support, art therapy, life skills, educational and vocational training, recreational activities, and outings, including Vancouver Pride. Their Drop-In Centre hosts a special event for 2SLGBTQAI+ youth once a month, which is a safe and welcoming space for connection and community. CHV honours the preferences of trans, gender queer, non-binary, and Two Spirit youth by allowing them to choose the sleeping accommodations where they feel most comfortable.
In addition, the CHV buildings each have visible Pride flags, representative artwork, and all common spaces have individual, gender-neutral bathrooms. CHV has a clothing room where youth can choose the clothes that they wish to wear, to express their individuality. CHV also works with organizations, such as Qmunity, to help connect 2SLGBTQAI+ youth to community and to resources.
Christine said, “Back home, being openly queer was dangerous. I lived in fear every day. At Covenant House Vancouver, I was embraced for who I am. They connected me with the local queer community, and for the first time, I felt free to just be me.”
Right Now, You Can Help More Youth, Like Christine
CHV’s Double Match Campaign is on now. When you support young people, like Christine, your gift will be doubled, thanks to the Wubs Family Foundation, who will match any gift, up to $100,000, but only until June 30!
Donate today and walk alongside youth as they journey towards a better future.
Follow Covenant House Vancouver on Facebook for updates.
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