Urgent

URGENT:
LGBTQ Youth Shelters Face Threat of Closure Following DYCD
Funding Refusal
Dear Lucky Michaels,

The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) has slashed funding for LGBTQ runaway and homeless youth programs in a wave of funding cuts that promise to cripple LGBTQ homeless youth services across the city in the coming year. By refusing funding requests for LGBTQ youth programs at MCCNY Homeless Youth Services: Sylvia's Place and Bronx Community Pride while cutting funds by 2/3 for Green Chimneys' LGBTQ program, DYCD has jeopardized the futures of thousands of homeless LGBTQ youth.

The closing of these programs will force LGBTQ youth to live on the streets for months while waiting for beds at mainstream shelters, where they face harassment and violence due to their sexual orientation. DYCD has further threatened the well-being of LGBTQ clients who depend upon LGBTQ homeless youth organizations for food, clothing, medical care and case management services.

There are currently only 75 beds citywide for LGBTQ homeless youth, though over 35% of the city's homeless youth identify as LGBTQ. The Metropolitan Community Church of New York operates Sylvia's Place, which houses 26 LGBTQ youth beds and serves over 1000 youth every year. The city's unwillingness to acknowledge the critical work of Sylvia's Place and other LGBTQ -specific youth shelters will lead to a collapse in the shelter system citywide, making it impossible for homeless youth of all orientations to secure the housing and services they need.

If DYCD gets away with this, then the 75 beds that New York City currently has for LGBTQ youth could be cut to less than 49 BEDS for LGBTQ youth in a city where, according to a New York City Council-funded survey, over 1000 LGBTQ youth are homeless every night.


Tell DYCD and your legislators that the futures of homeless LGBTQ youth matter!



MCCNY Homeless Youth Services, Green Chimneys, Bronx Community Pride and many more depended on these funds and will be losing ground if DYCD does not consider their proposals now!

Urgent