By Katie Causey, Lauren Fitzgerald, and Miles Goodman
As a kid, many factors support your overall well being - what your experience is like in school, regularly seeing a doctor to keep you healthy, and joining your favorite sport with your friends. Currently, there are just under 500 state bills across the U.S. that could prevent kids from these essential activities necessary to support their wellbeing. LGBT+ youth, particularly transgender kids, are targeted by legislation that prevents them from playing sports, accessing healthcare, enforces discrimination, and bans LGBT+ books and resources from schools. In a time when states are advancing bills targeting LGBT+ youth, California has become a sanctuary state. In California, kids can be kids here; they can play sports, enjoy an amazing public education, and have access to the healthcare they need - and there’s another way California can be a leader in protecting the LGBT+ community: building homes, affordable homes, and passing renter protections.
Due to policy failures, few homes were built in California for decades. Now the state is struggling with a severe housing shortage that it must eliminate. To address this shortage, California must build more homes, make sure many homes are designated affordable housing (where the government sets a low price to buy or rent them), and pass protections for renters, individuals living in their car or RV, and those who currently do not have a place to live. This housing shortage is particularly detrimental to LGBT+ youth, nearly one-third of which will experience houselessness and housing instability and face barriers to support if they have nowhere to live.
Housing policy failures in the state are equity failures and a failure to protect kids. School districts and colleges may set policies to help protect LGBT+ students and support students struggling, but the crisis of housing instability compounds any stress a student is facing. Throughout a student’s time in school, their mental health will be impacted if they know at any time a rent increase or eviction could mean their family will have nowhere to live.
Luckily, the state is in the middle of its “housing element” cycle, where every eight years, it asks cities and counties to present evidence they are addressing the housing shortage. In each city and county, the state advises how many affordable and market-rate homes should be built based on where they are most needed. Add tenant protections, and California becomes a much more welcoming state for at-risk kids. Building homes, affordable homes, and passing renter protections will save the lives of LGBT+ youth.
If you are a transgender teen and you’re kicked out of your home or your family is evicted or pressured by high housing costs to move out of the state that legally protects you – that is a policy choice. California cities and counties can help create a better future. Interim housing and support organizations are essential but serve as nonpermanent transitional solutions. Permanent solutions and permanent housing are vital to good policy and achieving equal opportunity and safety. California can become a place where if you’re a teen and your home is not safe, there’s a welcoming, supportive home with youth services in your neighborhood that you can move into. If your family is evicted, that disruption isn’t life altering, because there’s open, affordable housing available two blocks from you, ready for you to move in.
California has a deep LGBT+ history; the state has long been a progressive leader and told the LGBT+ community, “no matter what, you’re safe here.” Now California must act as LGBT+ youth are impacted by the housing shortage. This Pride Month recognizes that housing keeps our community together and our kids safe.
Katie Causey is a Lead at Peninsula For Everyone and a Former Tenant Organizer for the Palo Alto Renter's Association.
Lauren Fitzgerald is a Lead at Peninsula For Everyone and a Bay Area-based activist for youth issues, housing, and transportation.
Miles Goodman is a Lead at Peninsula For Everyone and a Palo Alto-based organizer with a background in social psychology and an advocate for housing, youth mental health, and strengthening community college pathways.
