Housing instability among young men who have sex with men in a US national sample.

Background: Youth, including those experiencing housing instability, are among the fastest growing groups of individuals with new STI diagnoses, including HIV. The unpredictable nature of the lives of youth experiencing housing instability often leads to inconsistent or non-existent health care and preventive follow up, leaving gaps in our knowledge about the most prominent needs for intervention. Methods: Using data from the Findings: Participants who reported more behavioral risk factors for STI and those who reported sex work in the last three months were more likely to experience housing instability (OR = 2.5 and 2.76 respectively). Youth with higher levels of reported social support, health insurance, and older age were more likely to report stable housing (OR = .98, 1.61, and 1.13 respectively). Surprisingly, youth with stable housing were more likely to report intimate partner violence than those experiencing housing instability (OR = .89). Discussion: Implications for addressing STIs among adolescent SGM men having sex with men are discussed including bolstering support systems and addressing basic needs deficits and trauma associated with sex work and behavioral risk factors for STI. Implications and contributions statement: The study examines correlates of housing instability among a sample of young sexual and gender minority men who have sex with other men. Correlates of housing instability included behavioral risk factors for sexually transmitted infection and reporting sex work in the last three months. Health insurance, older age, and higher levels of social support were correlated with more stable housing.