Latest news with #DestinationTomorrow
Washington Post
4 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
NYC opens nation's first publicly funded homeless shelter for trans people
New York City has opened what officials say is the nation's first publicly funded homeless shelter dedicated to transgender and gender nonconforming people. The Queens shelter, called Ace's Place, which officially opened this week, will be fully funded by the city at a cost of nearly $66 million over the next five years, according to Neha Sharma, a spokesperson for the city's social services department. Destination Tomorrow, a Bronx LGBTQ+ center, will run the facility in partnership with the city.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
NYC opens first-in-the-nation homeless shelter for transgender people
New York City opened the country's first city-funded shelter for transgender and gender-nonconforming people experiencing homelessness. Ace's Place, which opened this week in Queens and will offer 150 beds, is a collaboration between the NYC Department of Social Services and Destination Tomorrow, an LGBTQ nonprofit in the Bronx. Ace's Place will provide transitional housing as well as other services including individual and group counseling, planning and assistance for permanent housing, referrals to medical and mental health services, support groups, life skills and financial literacy workshops and employment assistance. Destination Tomorrow is also developing a work-study program for the culinary arts for residents interested in working in hospitality and food service, according to a press release from the nonprofit. 'We couldn't be prouder to make this historic announcement that strongly affirms our values and commitment to strengthening the safety net for transgender New Yorkers at a time when their rights are roundly under attack,' Molly Wasow Park, Department of Social Services commissioner, said in a statement. 'Ace's Place will offer Transgender New Yorkers a safe place to heal and stabilize in trauma-informed settings with the support of staff who are deeply invested in their growth and wellbeing.' Sean Ebony Coleman, founder and CEO of Destination Tomorrow, said Ace's Place is a 'hard-fought declaration that our Transgender and gender nonconforming siblings will no longer be pushed to the margins.' 'Ace's Place is a community-driven answer to systemic neglect, and it's only the beginning,' Coleman said in a statement. Trans people disproportionately experience homelessness, in part due to facing more employment discrimination. The 2022 U.S. Trans Survey, the largest nationwide survey of trans people, with more than 90,000 respondents, found that 30% of respondents reported experiencing homelessness in their lifetimes. Eleven percent of those who had ever held a job said they had been fired, forced to resign, lost the job or been laid off because of their gender identity or expression. More than one-third (34%) of respondents were experiencing poverty. Ace's Place is one of only two organizations in New York City that will provide housing for adults in the LGBTQ community. Nearly all of the city's LGBTQ shelters are for people under 25. This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
NBC News
5 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
NYC opens first-in-the-nation homeless shelter for transgender people
'We couldn't be prouder to make this historic announcement that strongly affirms our values and commitment to strengthening the safety net for transgender New Yorkers at a time when their rights are roundly under attack,' Molly Wasow Park, Department of Social Services commissioner, said in a statement. 'Ace's Place will offer Transgender New Yorkers a safe place to heal and stabilize in trauma-informed settings with the support of staff who are deeply invested in their growth and wellbeing.' Sean Ebony Coleman, founder and CEO of Destination Tomorrow, said Ace's Place is a 'hard-fought declaration that our Transgender and gender nonconforming siblings will no longer be pushed to the margins.' 'Ace's Place is a community-driven answer to systemic neglect, and it's only the beginning,' Coleman said in a statement. Trans people disproportionately experience homelessness, in part due to facing more employment discrimination. The 2022 U.S. Trans Survey, the largest nationwide survey of trans people, with more than 90,000 respondents, found that 30% of respondents reported experiencing homelessness in their lifetimes. Eleven percent of those who had ever held a job said they had been fired, forced to resign, lost the job or been laid off because of their gender identity or expression. More than one-third (34%) of respondents were experiencing poverty. Ace's Place is one of only two organizations in New York City that will provide housing for adults in the LGBTQ community. Nearly all of the city's LGBTQ shelters are for people under 25.
CBS News
5 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
1st homeless shelter for transgender people opening in NYC
New York City is opening the nation's first city-funded homeless shelter specifically for transgender and gender-nonconforming people. Ace's Place, a shelter with 150 beds in Long Island City, Queens, will offer transitional housing and specialized support services to members of the LGBTQ+ community, the NYC Department of Social Services says. The city is partnering with Destination Tomorrow, a national LGBTQ+ organization with centers in New York, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., to offer shelter residents resources from counseling and employment assistance to independent living, life skills and financial literacy workshops, and a culinary arts program. The shelter will have a full-time psychiatric nurse practitioner and other staff providing specialized mental health support, according to the city. Destination Tomorrow will offer yoga and meditation through its wellness programs, the city added. "We couldn't be prouder to make this historic announcement that strongly affirms our values and commitment to strengthening the safety net for transgender New Yorkers at a time when their rights are roundly under attack," Molly Wasow Park, the city's social services commissioner, said. "Ace's Place will offer Transgender New Yorkers a safe place to heal and stabilize in trauma-informed settings with the support of staff who are deeply invested in their growth and wellbeing." "The opening of the country's first city-funded TGNC shelter is more than historic — it is lifesaving," Chanel Lopez, the deputy director of LGBTQ+ affairs for the New York State Executive Chamber, said. "For far too long, my community has been pushed to the margins, forced to navigate systems that were never built with our safety or dignity in mind. This shelter represents what's possible when we center community voices, invest in affirming care, and lead with equity. Destination Tomorrow is setting not only a local, but a national standard — and I am proud to witness this moment." The New York City Department of Homeless Services is one of the largest government organizations tasked with preventing homelessness, with an operating budget of over $2 billion.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
New York City opens first government-funded transgender homeless shelter in the nation
New York City opened the nation's first government-funded homeless shelter exclusively for transgender individuals — a move that's drawing sharp criticism, with opponents calling it yet another example of "progressive political theater." The city is reportedly spending $63 million in taxpayer dollars to fund the project, which is set to operate through 2030, The Gothamist, a local news outlet, reported. The shelter, called Ace's Place, is located in the Bronx and offers 150 beds along with a suite of services including on-site psychiatric care, job training, GED prep, and even culinary arts programs. Funded by the Department of Social Services (DSS) and run in partnership with LGBTQ+ nonprofit Destination Tomorrow, the shelter is being hailed by city leaders as a "groundbreaking national first." "A landmark moment for NYC," the Department of Homeless Services wrote on X. "We have opened the city's first shelter specifically for homeless transgender and gender-nonconforming people." Santa Monica Business Owner Offering One-way Flights To Get Homeless Out Of California City officials and nonprofit leaders celebrated the move as a milestone in LGBTQ+ rights, even as critics question the growing trend of identity-specific public programs. Read On The Fox News App "We couldn't be prouder to make this historic announcement that strongly affirms our values and commitment to strengthening the safety net for transgender New Yorkers at a time when their rights are roundly under attack," said DSS Commissioner Molly Wasow Park. Supporters say the facility will provide a safe, tailored environment for transgender individuals often marginalized or victimized in traditional shelters. Officials added that the aim is to help individuals stabilize and transition into long-term housing and independence. "New York City has long been a leader in advancing LGBTQ+ rights and protections, and we're proud to continue that tradition with the opening of the nation's first city-funded shelter dedicated to supporting transgender individuals," said DHS administrator Joslyn Carter. Dem Rep Calls Out Nyc's Ongoing Failure To Tackle Bronx 'Open Air Drug Market' Crisis Sean Ebony Coleman, CEO of Destination Tomorrow, added that the shelter is "a declaration that transgender people will no longer be pushed to the margins." Coleman emphasized that this initiative was "by the community, for the community." "Ace's Place is a community-driven answer to systemic neglect, and it's only the beginning," Coleman said. However, critics argue that the project sidesteps the real crisis facing New York City. NYC Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola, who has consistently advocated for hiring more DHS police officers and social workers to improve safety in shelters, opposing identity‑based segregation or symbolic policy gestures, criticized the new multimillion-dollar project. "Every New Yorker should feel safe in our shelter system. But instead of fixing the system for everyone, the city is spending $63 million to build a separate facility based on gender identity," minority council leader Joann Ariola told The New York Post. 'Bodega Brothel' Near Schools In Aoc's Red-light District Shut Down Without Her Help, Local Leaders Say "That money should've gone to hiring more [Department of Homeless Services] police officers and social workers to make all of our facilities safer." "Instead, we are just further segregating the homeless system and ignoring the very real problems in favor of progressive political theater," she continued. Others online echoed that sentiment, questioning the legality and fairness of identity-based shelters. "The shelter, called Ace's Place, is built ONLY for transgender and "gender non-conforming individuals" because "trans rights are under attack" How is this legal???" Libs of TikTok wrote in a post on X. "This is a horribly discriminatory and unconstitutional use of tax dollars," another user commented. "It's being properly condemned as "progressive political theater." Still, supporters argue the shelter sets a national precedent, with LGBTQ+ advocacy groups hailing it as a "blueprint for the future." The facility will offer wraparound services ranging from mental health and medical care to yoga and job placement assistance, all tailored to the TGNC community. "This historic milestone reflects what's possible when Trans-led organizations are empowered to lead and design solutions for their own communities. Destination Tomorrow is once again meeting the moment — providing not just shelter, but critical care, services, and dignity," said Kimberleigh Joy Smith, EVP of Policy and Advocacy, Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. Fox News Digital reached out to NYC Council Minority Leader Ariola's office, but did not immediately receive a article source: New York City opens first government-funded transgender homeless shelter in the nation Solve the daily Crossword
