In support of the LGBTQ+ community, both inside and outside of our team, Virtuance is donating $2,000 to True Colors United in June. The company will also match 1 for 1 all donations made by employees to True Colors United between 6/27/22 and 7/1/22.
True Colors United works to create and support advocacy programs to end LGBTQ youth homelessness and create a world where all young people can be their true selves. Visit https://truecolorsunited.org/ for more information on the mission.
In the United States, 4.2 million youth experience homelessness each year. LGBTQ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their non-LGBTQ peers. Most of the LGBTQ youth’s homelessness is the result of family conflict in the home:
- Being forced out of their homes
- Abuse at home
- Running away due to non-accepting family members
- Aging out of the foster care system
- Family poverty
Often, it’s not one thing that causes homelessness, but a combination of many.
“When we center the experiences of the most marginalized, we’re able to improve the lives of all youth.”
– Twiggy Pucci Garçon, Program Director
While LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness have similar needs to their non-LGBTQ peers such as access to physical and mental health services, they also have needs specific to their identities. The needs of LGBQ youth experiencing homelessness focus on housing and identity-related supports. Transgender youths are also in need of access to transition-related supports such as legal support, name/gender marker change, and access to healthcare.
The Virtuance Team is putting its passion and support of our company values, including promoting equality, everywhere we can.
