A new report from a coalition of service providers for queer communities in the Portland area found that the region lacks support and resources for LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness. The report comes from the LGBTQAI2S+ Housing Collaborative, which is composed of several groups including Basic Rights Oregon, Pride Northwest, the Equi Institute, PDX Trans Housing Coalition, the Q Center, Black & Beyond the Binary Collective and others. 

The collaboration notes there is a lack of emergency shelters for this group, despite being more likely to have experienced homelessness. Jonathan Frochtwajg is the public policy and grants manager for Cascades Aids Project and authored the report. Seraph Kane and Thomasina Fizdale work with Portland's Queer Affinity Village, an outdoor shelter that creates an affirming space for LGBTQ+ Portlanders experiencing homelessness. They join us as well to share more about the demand for services.