Transitioning Our Shelters: Making Homeless Shelters Safe for Transgender People

Most homeless shelters in the United States are segregated by sex, with placement based on assumptions about a person's gender. As a result, transgender youth and adults, who identify as or express a gender different from their birth sex, can experience extreme difficulties in obtaining adequate and safe shelter. Many shelters are physically unsafe for transgender people, fail to provide adequate protections for their privacy, or do not respect their autonomy to define their own gender identity. This article provides information about transgender people, their experiences with poverty and homelessness, and how shelters can be made safe and welcoming for them. (C) 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.