HOMELESS ADVOCATES UNCOVER DENIAL OF SERVICES TO STRAIGHT & LGBT YOUNG ADULTS

Advocates Call Townhall Meeting on March 11, 2009 to Discuss How Homeless New Yorkers Are Being “Turned Away”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK,—After documenting dozens of stories of homeless young adults denied the right to access city shelters, New York advocates, service providers and the homeless are seeking answers from the Department of Homeless Services, and will be sharing those stories on a panel titled “TURNED AWAY: How Have Young Adults Been Denied Access to City Shelter?”, which is being organized and moderated by Queers for Economic Justice. The event happens on Wednesday, March 11^th at 6:30pm at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center (208 W 13^th St). Panelists include Joey Lopez, Ali Forney Center; Diana Olaizola, Coalition for the Homeless; Nancy Downing, Covenant House; Jane Bock, Legal Aid Society; and Anya Mukarji-Connolly, the Peter Cicchino Youth Project.

Although New York State policy allows long-term shelter access to homeless adults over 18 years of age, countless homeless young adults over 18 are being denied this right. They have been told they are “too young” and have been sent to youth agencies that can only offer short term shelter.

In 2008, Convenant House was referred over 259 young mothers (including pregnant women), and their more than 149 children by Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing or PATH (which is the Department of Homeless Services’ family intake center), according to Nancy Dowling, Director of Advocacy/Legal at Covenant House New York. All of these mothers between the ages of 18 and 21. However, many of these young mothers were told that they did not qualify for Department of Homeless Services because of their age or that the only place available for them was Covenant House.

“These actions are in direct violation of the City’s own stated policies,” said Joseph N. DeFilippis, Executive Director of Queers for Economic Justice. “We came together months ago when many of our organizations were hearing horror stories from young adults who were given the runaround, and DHS has never explained why this is happening.”

According to Diana Olaizola, Shelter Inspector at Coalition for the Homeless, “every homeless adult over the age of 18 has a right to get services in any city shelter for adults. No one can/should be denied shelter access”. Yet organizers and advocates continue to see this happening with young adults. In NYC, at least one-third of homeless youth self-identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

“The issue at hand is DHS lack of effort to make sure young people 18-21 no matter what gender get the opportunity to access their shelters,” said Joey Lopez, Coordinator of Policy & Training for the Ali Forney Center. “This includes their own inability to give young people 18-21 the adequate & proper services they deserve in a culturally & non-judgmental manner once in their care.”

Co-Sponsored by:

The Ali Forney Center

The NYC Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project

Audre Lorde Project

Coalition for the Homeless

Green Chimneys

Hetrick Martin Institute

Lambda Legal

The LGBT Community Center

Metropolitan Community Church of New York

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

New York Legal Assistance Group

Picture The Homeless

Queens Community House

Queers for Economic Justice

Sylvia Rivera Law Project

Urban Justice Center

Welfare Rights Initiative