Recent federal actions, including the termination of LGBTQ+ specialized services through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the release of the executive order titled “Ending Crime and Disorder on American Streets”, raise serious concerns about how vulnerable youth will be impacted. At Vista Maria, we serve young people navigating complex trauma, many of whom identify as LGBTQ+, have experienced homelessness, or are survivors of trafficking. The decisions outlined below may create new barriers to safety, stability, and healing.
Termination of the LGBTQ+ specialized services through 988:
This decision is deeply concerning. We care for youth who may be part of the LGBTQ+ community, and for some of them, that specialized resource was one of the only affirming lifelines they had. While general crisis support remains available, the loss of identity-affirming, culturally competent responders may create a dangerous gap in care.
For young people who have already experienced rejection, trauma, or marginalization, being met with understanding — not just crisis triage — can be the difference between reaching out or staying silent. We’ll be monitoring this closely and exploring how we can reinforce internal supports for those most impacted.
Executive order, “Ending Crime and Disorder on American Streets”:
We are concerned by language that frames homelessness, mental illness, and substance use as threats to public safety rather than urgent public health challenges. Terms such as “vagrancy,” “urban squatting,” and “restoring civil commitment” reflect outdated approaches that have historically harmed, rather than helped, vulnerable populations. This framing is especially troubling when applied to youth who experience homelessness due to family rejection, abuse, or trafficking.
The order’s encouragement to expand the use of civil commitment raises serious concerns. Involuntary institutionalization without adequate discussion of due process, trauma history, or treatment quality risks isolating rather than supporting individuals. For youth with complex trauma, supportive community-based care remains the most effective and compassionate approach.
We are also closely watching the potential implications for LGBTQ+ and trafficked youth. Freezing funding for inclusive housing providers or requiring data-sharing with law enforcement may discourage young people from seeking help — especially those who already fear judgment or criminalization.
Every young person deserves to be met with dignity, understanding, and care. Vista Maria will continue standing with and for those whose needs are too often overlooked.