Covenant House Newsroom

LGBTQIA+ youth face a higher risk of homelessness, stigma and discrimination. Without family support, they have to fend for themselves. Not knowing where they are going to sleep, or when they will have their next meal, changes the trajectory of their lives.

Raven was only a teenager when this happened to her. As a young transgender teen, Raven was on her own in the streets of New Orleans, at risk of hunger and being exploited by sex traffickers. Her family didn’t want to have anything to do with her because of her gender identity.

But Raven was able to find a community that provided shelter, food and accepted her as she was. It was a community that listened to her and that was willing to learn and adjust, so they could provide a space where she could be happy.

Learn more about Raven and how she was able to escape homelessness: 

https://www.nokidhungry.org/blog/celebrating-lgbtqia-kids-and-teens-food-love-and-respect