Project Summary
This study examined the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on 2SLGBTQ+ youth (N=92) at risk of, and experiencing, homelessness in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and surrounding areas in Ontario, Canada, to understand the specific challenges, coping strategies and mental health responses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study results showed changes to 2SLGBTQ+ youths’ housing situations since the beginning of the pandemic, including decreased housing options, increased levels of identity-based family violence, and high rates of mental health issues among youth, but reduced access to mental health care and social support services during the pandemic, as well as reduced access to transition-related medical care among transgender and non-binary youth. This study highlighted the need for 2SLGBTQ+ inclusive and affirming health care and support services for precariously housed youth to address the pre-existing social and health issues that were exacerbated by the pandemic.
Policy Briefs
Publications
Abramovich, A., Pang, N., Moss, A., Logie, C. H., Chaiton, M., Kidd, S.A., & Hamilton, H.A. (2021) Investigating the impacts of COVID-19 among LGBTQ2S youth experiencing homelessness. PLOS One, 16(9), e0257693. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0257693
Abramovich, A., Pang, N., & Moss, A. (2022) Experiences of Family Violence Among 2SLGBTQ+ Youth At Risk Of, And Experiencing, Homelessness During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health, 26(3), 265-288. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/19359705.2022.2076759
Abramovich, A., Pang, N., Kim, V.K., Stark, R.K., Lange, S., Chaiton, M., Logie, C.H., Hamilton, H., & Kidd, S. (2023) Investigating longitudinal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic among 2SLGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness. PLOS One,18(7): e0288591. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288591
Abramovich, A., Pang, N., Kunasekaran, S., Moss, A., Kiran, T., & Pinto, A.D. (2022) Examining COVID-19 vaccine uptake and attitudes among 2SLGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness. BMC Public Health, 22(122): https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12537-x
Media
Un jeune sans-abri LGBTQ+ sur 3 a tenté de se suicider durant la pandémie, selon une étude
Radio-Canada
‘There’s no social escape’: Pandemic led to rising homelessness, depression among queer and trans people in Toronto
Toronto Star
Research Snapshots
Doing Away with One-Size-Fits-All Approaches to Youth Homelessness: The Impacts of COVID-19 on LGBTQ2S Youth
Making the Shift
Un jeune sans-abri LGBTQ+ sur 3 a tenté de se suicider durant la pandémie, selon une étude
Radio-Canada
