News

Upcoming Building to Accommodate Homeless LGBT Youth

A third of homeless people in Manhattan are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, according to advocates for those persons. And, the advocates added, a disproportionate number of those particular homeless people are teens and young adults with comparatively little money to cover the high cost of New York City housing.

That reality is what drives a plan to build an 18- to 20-unit residential building on 13th Street. Project leaders will not give out the precise address.

“All of [Ali Forney Center] sites are confidential and details regarding address and location are not shared with the public. This is done to ensure the safety and anonymity of our clients,” said Alex Roque, development director for the Ali Forney Center.

The AFC is developing the multi-unit residence along with the Cooper Square Committee, an affordable housing and tenant rights group. “There are an estimated 3,800 homeless LGBT youth on the streets of [New York City] and fewer than 300 beds available for them,” Roque said.

He continued: “With less than 150 beds designated specifically for these youth, this [building] project helps to … ensure there are beds specifically for homeless LGBT youth who oftentimes face greater challenges in traditional homeless shelters and in our community in general.”

The upcoming project follows at least one other similar New York City program. The directors of that program, True Colors Residence, contend that the need for such housing is great.

Melaney Mashburn, a licensed clinical social worker, used to be a counselor at True Colors, whose development celebrity singer Cyndi Lauper helped to fund. The organization’s website describes
True Colors as “New York’s first and only permanent, supportive housing for lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender youth with a history of homelessness.”

“While they make up about 15 percent of the population, LGBT youth make up about 60 percent of
the homeless youth population in New York City,” Mashburn said. “They tend to have fractured
relationships with families and are at higher risk of suicide and substance abuse. And homeless
LGBT youth are also at greater risk of being sexually assaulted in the city shelter system.