There’s help for homeless youth in McLean County

Posted on April 17, 2016

By Terry James

BLOOMINGTON – 40 percent of the homeless youth in this country are a part of the LGBT community.

Colleen O’Connor with Project Oz in Bloomington said one-fourth of gay teens are kicked out of the house for revealing their sexual orientation to their families.

“Well, best case scenario is the parents say, ‘I love you anyway’,” said O’Connor. “But, a lot of the time what happens is that young person who has just taken the risk to be vulnerable and come out and be honest about what they’re feeling faces rejection and abandonment.”

O’Connor said Project Oz provides host families and other services for teens. She said homelessness and rejection can lead to drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and crime.

Terry James can be reached at [email protected].

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