Statement: Gov. Newsom’s Executive Order on Homeless Encampments Will Endanger LGBTQ+ Young People
LOS ANGELES, July 26, 2024—Responding to Gov. Newsom’s inhumane executive order to remove homeless encampments, the Los Angeles LGBT Center released the following statement from Lisa Phillips, the organization’s Chief Social Services Officer:
“Last month, the conservative Supreme Court Justices decided on the Grants Pass rule, which effectively allows states to criminalize homelessness—even if there isn’t available space to accommodate sheltering needs. Unfortunately, Governor Newsom’s executive order takes advantage of this cruel decision via the ‘urgent’ clearing of encampments, despite his full knowledge of our state’s notorious housing crisis.
As homeless service providers like myself know all too well, this mandate will likely result in municipalities displacing homeless individuals into Los Angeles, placing a greater burden on our shelters, our workforce, and the quality of care that we can provide.
The Governor’s decision criminalizes homelessness—which by default increases potentially dangerous law enforcement interaction with Black youth—and will not solve our housing crisis. And whether we like it or not, this absolutely is an LGBTQ+ issue: Queer youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their peers, and they make up 40% of the 4.2 million youth experiencing homelessness nationally.
The Center welcomes youth to our doorstep every day, where we offer emergency shelter, a transitional living program, and permanent supportive housing for folks who need it most. But most importantly, we provide hopeful opportunities for youth to finish their education, get workforce development, receive health and mental healthcare, and other vital services.
Robin, who’s now 22, was a young person living in an encampment like the ones ordered to be cleared by Governor Newsom. A trans youth, she was kicked out of her family home and forced to seek shelter where she experienced harassment and threats to her safety. Luckily and finally, she made it to our Center, where she is now supported in our care.
We join our city’s finest frontline workers and service providers in urging the Newsom administration to reconsider the disproportionate impact this executive order will have on the community and young people we serve. For 55 years and counting, our Center has filled in housing gaps when elected leaders have failed to do so. This is why our doors will always remain open.”
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About the Los Angeles LGBT Center
Since 1969 the Los Angeles LGBT Center has cared for, championed, and celebrated LGBT individuals and families in Los Angeles and beyond. Today the Center’s nearly 800 employees provide services for more LGBT people than any other organization in the world, offering programs, services, and global advocacy that span four broad categories: Health, Social Services and Housing, Culture and Education, Leadership and Advocacy. We are an unstoppable force in the fight against bigotry and the struggle to build a better world; a world in which LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society. Learn more at lalgbtcenter.org.