True Colors United

01/15/2025

From our partners at Housing Not Handcuffs: This Thursday, the United States Senate will host its confirmation hearing for Scott Turner. Amid a worsening housing crisis, we need real leadership to ensure that HUD fulfills its mandate to help people afford housing. Scott Turner is not that leader. As we enter an administration that openly talks about rounding up homeless people and forcing them into detention centers, the need for real solutions, not jails, funding cuts, and detention camps, We need you to contact your Senators and tell them to “vote no” on Turner’s nomination: https://p2a.co/uHDdmLo

01/10/2025

12/31/2024

This is it! Today is the last day of 2024 and there isn’t much time left to reach our year-end goal. As of last night, True Colors United still needs to raise $18,273.

Last week, HUD showed the country what we unfortunately have been seeing over the past months and years—the number of young people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. is rising. Our interventions, advocacy and training are more critical than ever. And we need your support to make it happen!

Please consider making a year-end gift today to ensure True Colors United can continue to be a leader in the youth homelessness movement. When we unite around this cause and center the voices of those most impacted, we can create real, lasting change.

Click here to make a gift today: https://my.truecolorsunited.org/give/54432/ #!/donation/checkout

12/30/2024

Late Friday, the New York Times reported on some disturbing new data out from the Department of Housing and Urban Development: The number of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. topped 770,000, an increase of more than 18 percent over last year.

These trends are deeply concerning to us, as we’re sure they are for you as well. While the report cited multiple reasons for the recent rise—including the end of pandemic-era measures to keep people in their homes—the fact of the matter is our systems are broken and we need innovative, youth- and expert-led reform. Now.

True Colors United is ready to lead on efforts to address and curb growing youth numbers. But we need you by our side!

Would you consider making a year-end donation to True Colors United before December 31? Your contribution will directly support our programs and initiatives, ensuring that together, we are building a brighter future for LGBTQ+ youth.

Help us reach our goal! Your support will make a meaningful difference. Every contribution brings us closer to success. Join us today and be part of something impactful.

12/23/2024

Join the movement to support young people experiencing homelessness in America: https://my.truecolorsunited.org/give/54432/ #!/donation/checkout

12/22/2024

Being rejected by their family and community is a leading cause of homelessness for + youth.

Every young person deserves a safe and loving home to help them strive for a brighter future.

True Colors United

12/10/2024

New data shows a devastating increase in youth homelessness across the United States. The number of unaccompanied young people experiencing homelessness has risen by 15% over the past year alone. And in the face of relentless political attacks aimed at LGBTQ+ youth, many experts agree that the number of youth experiencing homelessness in the U.S. will unfortunately only continue to rise.

At True Colors United, we've seen this crisis firsthand. More LGBTQ+ youth are being cast out by families who reject them. More young people aging out of foster care have nowhere to go. And discriminatory policies and lack of affordable housing continue pushing more vulnerable youth onto the streets.

Clearly, our current systems are failing too many young people. We need robust reforms to dismantle the policies and prejudices that fuel this crisis. But we can't create lasting change without uplifting the voices and leadership of those with lived experience of homelessness—and we can't do it without YOU!

Please consider a year-end gift of support for True Colors United and join the movement to end youth homelessness once and for all. When we unite around this cause and center the voices of those most impacted, we can create real, lasting change.

https://my.truecolorsunited.org/give/54432/ #!/donation/checkout

12/03/2024

This , we hope you'll join thousands of dedicated community members in supporting the life-changing work at True Colors United.

As the nation's leading organization implementing solutions to LGBTQ+ youth homelessness, True Colors United is:

-Training service providers nationwide to be culturally competent, ensuring youth experiencing homelessness have access to safe, affirming services and programming
-Advocating for policies on both local and national levels that prevent homelessness and uplift LGBTQ+ youth voices
-Working alongside youth leaders to better the very systems they were once a part of, focusing on important matters like ending the foster care-to-homelessness trajectory far too many young people experience

A staggering 40% of youth experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ+, often due to family rejection and societal discrimination. With your help, True Colors United can continue to be there with open arms when young people have nowhere else to turn.

This Giving Tuesday, a generous member of our True Colors community has agreed to match donations—doubling your impact! Simply click the link below in the comments to make your tax-deductible gift TODAY.

Together, we can create a brighter future for LGBTQ+ young people nationwide by ensuring they have a safe place to call home and the opportunity to thrive.

12/02/2024

November may have ended but the importance of Homeless Youth Awareness Month matters all year! Get caught up on our Instagram stats from last month and share this important education with those in your community.

11/20/2024

Today on Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor and hold the memory of the transgender lives lost to violence and hate this year. The epidemic of violence against transgender people, especially trans women of color, is a tragic crisis that must be addressed.

At True Colors United, we recommit ourselves to creating a world where transgender young people can live authentically, free from discrimination, hatred and fear. No young person should have to endure the trauma, rejection, and homelessness that too many trans youth face simply for being true to themselves.

While we mourn those lost, we also celebrate the resilience, courage, and vibrancy of the transgender community. Trans people—and especially trans youth—are lights in this world, reminding us of the beauty of being unapologetically yourself.

This Transgender Day of Remembrance, let's rededicate ourselves to doing more as allies and community members. Educate ourselves and others. Use correct names and pronouns. Speak out against transphobia. Support affirmative organizations and policies. Most of all, listen to trans voices.

We won't be silent. We will continue to speak out against those in power who use trans identity as a political weapon and we will continue uplifting the stories of transgender people and fighting against the injustices they face until everyone can live with freedom, safety and dignity.

11/15/2024

Today, a staggering number of LGBTQ+ youth face the harsh reality of homelessness, often due to family rejection, discrimination, and a lack of support systems. In fact, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2023 Point-in-Time Count revealed a 15 percent increase in homelessness among youth and young adults since 2022. Even more alarming is the astounding 28 percent increase in homelessness among transgender and gender non-conforming youth—nearly twice that of the overall youth and young adult population.

This Homeless Youth Awareness Month, the staff and board at True Colors United are turning to our own communities and asking friends, family and colleagues to join us in supporting youth experiencing homelessness. So join us with a gift of support today and stand with us in this most important youth movement. And to kick our effort off on a high note, a generous member of our True Colors community will match the first $5,000 donated! So please consider making a gift of support today!

https://my.truecolorsunited.org/campaign/639937/donate

11/06/2024

Many of us are waking up this morning to news that is hard to process. We don't pretend to know how each one of you may personally feel about the outcome of the election, but as an organization working in service of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth, we understand that the results may feel particularly hurtful and harmful to both our work and our identities. We may not know what the next four years will bring, but there is one thing we do know for sure: our community is strong. We have faced challenges such as these before with courage, determination and compassion. And we must continue to do so not only for ourselves but for one another. True Colors United remains committed to working on innovative solutions to end youth homelessness while uplifting the brilliance of marginalized young people. These young people are not solely defined by their sexual orientation, gender identity or race, and many likely feel disenfranchised and hurt by this election. Not only do we need to ensure that LGBTQ+ youth and other vulnerable youth communities get the help they need, we have to make sure that they’re never made to feel ostracized again in our country—especially by those in positions of power.

A number of partner resources are available to anyone who needs space to process and connect:

Call, text or chat the 988 Lifeline by dialing “988” or visit 998lifeline.org

Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860

LGBT National Hotline: 888-843-4564

Trevor Lifeline: 866-488-7386

Call Blackline: 800-604-5841

StrongHearts Native Helpline: 844-762-8483

Wildflower Alliance Peer Support Line: 888-407-4515

Thrive Lifeline: 313-662-8209

LGBTQ+ Center Directory: lgbtqcenters.org/lgbtcenters

We see you. We care about you. We are here for you.

—True Colors United