LGBTQ Homeless Youth Research Project

Thank you for taking the time to read this. I am a PhD candidate in Cultural Anthropology who desires to raise funds to complete my dissertation project. These donations will go directly into implimenting my research design. This research is my passion. Research Question: Everyday thousands of homeless LGBTQ youth roam the streets of Hollywood, CA. These youth have a higher prevalence of exposure to physical violence, drug/alcohol abuse, mental illness and depression than their non-LGBTQ peers. Although there are many resources in the area for these youth, some still choose to not access these social services. The majority of these youth are ethnic minorities within the United States. My research question is: "Why do certain LGBTQ homeless youth decide to forgo or actively shun help from local social service agencies in Los Angeles, CA?" Outcomes: Right now, I am actively interviewing current and former homeless youth regarding their experiences with resources in the area. These include homeless shelters, work programs, substance abuse programs, and mental health counseling programs. It is my hope that this research will answer my main question resulting in ways these agencies can improve their outreach strategies. In a very direct way, I hope to encourage the youth that I meet to utilize the resources available to them, thus improving their lives. I am hoping to reach at least 50 more homeless youth and conduct 100 or more interviews.These interviews will also result in an oral history of life on the street in the early 21st century. Everyone who donates will be able to read my final dissertation manuscript via .pdf file. This dissertation will be completed by May of 2016. Researcher Background: I am a Chicana feminist who originally hails from Phoenix, Arizona. I have earned Bachelors degrees in Anthroplogy ('05) and Women's and Gender Studies ('07) from Arizona State Univeristy. I also have an MA in Anthroplogy ('11) from Washington State University. I have experience working at a youth homeless shelter in the heart of Hollywood as well as volunteering at a local GED study center.  Along with my new husband and cat, I now call SoCal home. I thank you sincerely for taking the time to read my proposal. - Angela Sulfaro-Menconi