Downtown

Pols push for services for homeless LGBT young adults

May 27, 2016 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
State Sen. Diane Savino says society is “seeing a growing trend in young adults who are being forced into the streets all because of the lifestyles they live.” Eagle file photo by Paula Katinas
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There are many young LGBT adults who are homeless because they have been rejected by their families and don’t want to sleep in shelters out of fear that they will be bullied and harassed, according to three of Brooklyn’s elected officials who are working together on a possible solution.

On May 24, Borough President Eric Adams, state Sen. Diane Savino, and Assemblymember Helene Weinstein announced an effort to amend the New York State Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to expand its application to include individuals under the age of 25 to enable young adults to receive services. Under current law, the age limit is 21. Both Savino and Weinstein are pushing bills in their respective legislative houses to have New York State matching the working definition of homeless youth as established by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.

The legislation seeks to address longstanding concerns that have been reported by many homeless LGBT New Yorkers between the ages of 21 and 25 regarding accessing adult homeless shelters, including fears of bullying, harassment, sexual assault, and violence. As a result of these issues, many young people have chosen to risk sleeping in the streets and subways, the lawmakers said.

“As a matter of safety, of economics, and of basic human compassion, it is time to recognize and support the full population of runaway and homeless youth in our state,” Adams said in a statement. Without help, young adults “will continue to fall through the cracks” Adams said.

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“Many homeless youth in New York State between the ages of 21 and 25 fear being subjected to violence, bullying, and sexual harassment in adult homeless shelters,” Weinstein (D-Sheepshead Bay-Flatlands) said. “Youth should not be deprived of the safe and age-appropriate services and shelter provided in shelters mandated by the Office of Children and Families under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act.”

Savino (D-Coney Island-Staten Island-Bensonhurst) said the problem of LGBT youth ending up homeless has increased in recent years.

“It is up to us as lawmakers to meet the critical needs of one of our vulnerable communities and that is our homeless youth, especially those in the LGBT community, because now more than ever are we seeing a growing trend in young adults who are being forced into the streets all because of the lifestyles they live,” Savino said. “If we are able to amend this bill, it would now include individuals under the age of 25 and would afford them the opportunity to obtain the available resources once denied to them.”

Advocates from the LGBT community and advocates for the homeless expressed support for the proposals put forth by Adams, Savino and Weinstein. James Bolas, executive director of the Coalition for Homeless Youth, said passage of the legislation pushed by Savino and Weinstein will expand access to emergency and transitional housing for vulnerable young adults.

“Housing for homeless young adults has always been severely deficient. Lack of housing and access to youth-appropriate services only damages the young adults seeking the stability they deserve that comes from a roof over their head,” Bolas said in a statement.


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