Public Hearing on LGBTQ+ Youth & Young Adult Homelessness in Boston

A heartfelt thank you to all the panelists, participants, and fellow City Councilors who joined yesterday’s hearing on LGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness in Boston. Your insights and commitment to this crucial issue were deeply appreciated. We also want to extend our gratitude to the youth who showed up to share their experiences with us.

Special thanks to our Panelists:

• Shaplaie Brooks Executive Director of the MA Commission on LGBTQ+ Youth

• Connor Schoen Co-Founder & Executive Director of Breaktime

• Aidan Seguin Guest Advocacy Director of the Y2Y Network

• Stef Harvey Director of Strategic Initiatives at Bridge Over Troubled Waters

• Pedro Cruz, Executive Director of the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement

• Katie Cahill-Holloway, Acting Director of Supportive Housing at the Mayor’s Office of Housing

• Yahaira Bautista, Senior Housing Development Officer for Supportive Housing, Mayor’s Office of Housing

  Thanks also to the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement for joining to support.

Together, we explored essential policy recommendations to help the City of Boston better address the critical issue of homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. The conversation emphasized the need for enhanced data collection to more accurately identify and understand instances of LGBTQ+ youth homelessness. We also examined ways the city can build and improve systems to support this vulnerable demographic.

Your ongoing dedication to creating inclusive and equitable support for our LGBTQ+ youth is inspiring, and we look forward to the continued collaboration as we work toward change. Many thanks once again for your invaluable contributions!