The Lighthouse Project: A Trauma Responsive System of Care for LGBTQ+ Transitional Age Youth and Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness - The Lighthouse Project is designed to link homeless, transitional age youth and young adults who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning and their Straight Allies (LGBTQ+) to a trauma-informed system of care that includes linkages to permanent supportive housing and primary health care, case management services, substance abuse and mental health treatment and a wide array of recovery support services. The University of Arizona-Southwest Institute for Research on Women (SIROW), the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF) and CODAC Health, Recovery and Wellness will partner to serve LGBTQ+-identified, transitional age youth and young adults, including those who are veterans, in Southern Arizona, from diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds, with a specific focus on those between the ages of 18 and 35 who are chronically homeless.
The goals of this project are (1) to provide ongoing outreach to a minimum of 300 individuals annually and screening to a minimum of 100 LGBTQ+ homeless young adults each year, (2) to annually enroll 60 individuals into needs-based, trauma-informed services, including case management, mental health and substance abuse treatment and recovery support services, (3) to develop and implement a coordinated, comprehensive, trauma-informed System of Care for chronically homeless young adults that is sensitive to and focused on the specific needs of those who identify as LGBTQ+, and (4) to evaluate all project activities to examine the impact of the intervention for participants and the longitudinal improvements to the System of Care.
To best meet the needs of the 300 participants over 5 years, we will employ two Evidenced Based Practices (EBPs) in addition to other services. Seeking Safety is trauma specific therapy that aims to help participants achieve relief from trauma/PTSD and substance abuse. Motivational Interviewing will be employed during outreach and case management sessions to encourage participants to make positive changes in their lives with regard to substance use, mental health, physical health, stability and self-sufficiency. The Lighthouse Project participants will also have the opportunity to participate in the SIROW Sexual Health Education-Queer HIV prevention education curriculum, LGBTQ-affirming substance abuse and mental health services, vocational programs, financial education, and personal empowerment programs.
