In this episode of UnHoused and UnFiltered, Nick Cook and Sarah Prout-Rennie are joined by longtime national LGBTQ+ advocate Eric Stiles for a candid conversation about the unique risks LGBTQ+ people—particularly youth—face when experiencing homelessness. The discussion explores family rejection, violence, sexual exploitation, substance use as a means of coping with trauma, and the additional barriers that can arise when someone seeking shelter or services is unsure whether an organization will treat them with dignity and respect. Stiles also explains how trust can quickly disappear when organizations that once publicly supported LGBTQ+ communities become less visible or welcoming during periods of political and funding uncertainty.

The conversation also challenges housing and homelessness organizations to examine what inclusion lo ...