Tag: homelessness

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Featured Health Nutrition NYC

Get Involved: How To Help Homeless/Displaced LGBTQ+ Youth At The Ali Forney Center

No, you’re not misreading this: LGBTQ youth in New York City comprise up to 40% of the homeless population.

LGBTQ youths are victims of greater levels of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, trauma, HIV infection, mental health issue and substance abuse than their non-LGBTQ/cisgender counterparts. They are eight times more likely to experience homelessness. According to a 2007 study of the NYC Council census of homeless youth by the Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services, 28% of the street youth identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual, 5% identified as transgender, and 11% said “unsure.” These statistics are chilling.

Ali Forney was a gay/transgender youth abandoned by his parents at the tender age of 13. After a group home and the foster care system failed him, he took to the streets fending for survival by any means possible, until his tragic 1997 murder in Harlem at just 22. During his short time on earth, he advocated safe sex, HIV prevention, and sought justice for the murders of fellow queer street youth. Forney worked with the staff of the Safe Horizon Streetwork program to help others find solace and safety as well.

Ali Forney. Photo: Meg Handler

After Forney’s brutal murder, the Ali Forney Center (AFC) opened in 2002 as a shelter and counseling center for displaced Manhattan and Brooklyn LGBTQ youth.

As the homelessness levels rise in the city, sending some love to the Ali Forney Center is something you can do that will mean the world to a young person who did not feel safe being themselves, and sought safe shelter.

The Ali Forney Center is very transparent about where donation money goes. If you would rather purchase sundry items that immediately go to those who need it, they have an Amazon Wish List set up on the website, asking for basic necessities and clothing, GED prep textbooks, professional clothing for job interviews, and goods specifically for transgender youth.

Make a difference to someone special who could use a little kindness.

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Events

The Project Renewal Annual Gala is Tuesday, June 4

Project Renewal 2018 gala
Project Renewal 2018 gala

Tickets are still available for the annual Project Renewal gala, to take place at Pier Sixty at the Chelsea Piers, on Tuesday, June 4, from 6-10pm. This year, the organization will honor Jonathan Rose of Jonathan Rose Companies. This visionary company, under the leadership of Rose, supports the well-being of communities by creating environmentally, socially, and economically responsible housing. Jonathan has partnered with Project Renewal to develop Bedford Green House, which will provide 234 apartments and support services and wellness amenities to low-income residents and families leaving homeless shelters.

The theme of this year’s gala will be “Project Renewal Works,” and will highlight the organization’s workforce development programs, including the Culinary Arts Training Program, City Beet Kitchens, Next Step, and the Next Step Internship Program. There will be a City Beet Kitchens tasting station at the gala, in addition to an auction, all benefitting the work of Project Renewal.

Project Renewal gala 2018
Geoff Proulx, Chair of the Board of Trustees, at last year’s gala.

Last year’s gala raised $1.5 million, and was attended by nearly 600 guests who enjoyed cocktails, dinner, and a live auction. The event celebrated the Project Renewal new Bronx supportive and affordable housing development, Bedford Green House. The evening was sponsored with support from organizations such as Morgan Stanley, Hollister Construction Services, Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel, Architects, DPC, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, The Johnson Company, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, The Brodsky Organization, Capital One, Delaware North Companies, Fisher Brothers, Guardian Life, ICON Interiors, Jonathan Rose Companies, J.T. Magen & Company, Lane Office, Northwell Health, Sera Security Services, SterlingRisk Insurance and White Hare Solutions.

MISSION: Project Renewal is a New York City-based nonprofit organization that works to end the cycle of homelessness by empowering individuals and families to renew their lives with health, homes and jobs. The organization’s innovative programs are designed to end the revolving door of emergency rooms, jails, shelters, and the streets. For over 50 years, their pioneering approach has created uniquely integrated and comprehensive programs that are replicated around the nation, helping even beyond the 16,000 homeless New Yorkers Project Renewal serves every year. To purchase tickets to the gala, or to donate, visit events.projectrenewal.org.

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Bars Culture Dining Events Featured

Serving Up Home, Breaking Ground’s Spring Cocktail Benefit

Since 1990, Breaking Ground has helped more than 13,000 people escape and avoid homelessness. They’re on the streets of New York every day of the year, 24/7, engaging with the homeless to bring them inside and connect them with services to restore their lives. They are the city’s largest supportive housing provider and operate 22 transitional and permanent housing residences, primarily in New York City.

Each year, the organization hosts a spring benefit titled Serving Up Home to raise critical funds for their street outreach program, which helps the most vulnerable street homeless New Yorkers come indoors and find a permanent home. This year’s event is a cocktail edition, featuring top NYC mixologists creating a top-shelf tasting event for guests to enjoy. This year’s edition features mixologists Marcio R Araujo of The Honeywell, Tynan Craycraft of Barbuto, Kacie Lambert of Handle Bars consulting, Thom Mullen of Frankies Sputino Group, and Chris Whalen who works in NYC and LA. We talked to Brenda Rosen, CEO of Breaking Ground, about cocktails and how this event will help Breaking Ground meet its goals.

Downtown: How did this event come to be? 

Brenda Rosen: As a nonprofit, our critical programming is funded in part through donations and philanthropy, and the Serving Up Home event is a vital way to raise funds that build and sustain our amazing outreach program, which is on the streets 24/7/365 helping vulnerable New Yorkers. This year, we’re so excited to have our Junior Board host the event to help build awareness around Breaking Ground’s mission to help New Yorkers experiencing homelessness.

Downtown: What are you most excited about cocktail wise at the event?

BR: Each specialty drink at the Serving Up Home event will be made with our product partner’s Nolet’s Silver Gin, so I’m very excited to see each mixologist’s creative spin. The drinks are all in the spirit of gin-erosity, for a great cause!

Downtown: What does this event help Breaking Ground accomplish? 

BR: The money raised from this event will benefit Breaking Ground’s street outreach program, helping the most vulnerable street homeless New Yorkers come indoors, get the help they need, and find a permanent home.

Downtown: What are some of the support services you offer people living in Breaking Ground housing?

BR: Breaking Ground partners with excellent local social service organizations who provide on-site case management, mental health counseling, medical services, job resources, and more. We also have staff who organize events and other activities in the building to engage residents socially, which decreases isolation, builds community, and helps them re-enter society.

Downtown: How do the transitional and permanent housing locations differ?

BR: Our transitional housing (known as Safe Havens) gives the homeless a safe place to stay and access services while we work with them to secure stable, permanent housing. Our permanent supportive housing is rent-stabilized housing – so everyone has a lease – paired with onsite supportive services designed to help people maintain a home for the long term.

Downtown: How long do people stay in the program? 

BR: Once people are in our permanent housing, they tend to stay. Our resident stability rate is consistently higher than 98%.

Downtown: Can you explain the partnership between Breaking Ground and the Prince George Ballroom?

BR: Built in 1904, the Prince George was once one of New York City’s premier hotels. After many years of decline and neglect, it was restored by Breaking Ground and reopened in 1999 to provide 416 units of affordable housing for low-income and formerly homeless adults and persons living with HIV/AIDS. The Prince George is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2005, Breaking Ground completed the restoration of the building’s 5,000-square-foot Neo-Renaissance ballroom – an incredible space from the building’s hotel days. Working with four other non-profit groups, including Alpha Workshops, Parsons School of Design, Brooklyn High School of Preservation Arts, and YouthBuild, the Neo-Renaissance ballroom was completed as a design-build project by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects. The Prince George Ballroom is now an event venue, available for rental with proceeds supporting the expansion of Breaking Ground’s programs and housing development work.