Tag: homeless

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Homeless youth 2012

Yeah, it’s my birthday and that’s all fun.  But for many homeless youth there aren’t many happy birthdays.  For many homeless youth, who are turned out of their homes by families who can’t handle the fact that they are gay or lesbian, every day is very tough.

As the statistics state: 40% of homeless youth are LGBT and the main reason they are homeless is REJECTION.

I was incredibly fortunate my family never turned away from me, but for many LGBT youth it is a reality to find your family reject you for something that has nothing to do with them.

I’m lucky.  I have a good life.  And I’m lucky enough to know it.

I’m not a “birthday” kind of guy.  But if I got to make a real birthday wish – my wish is that these kids find some solace, comfort and support.  I don’t have much but this “soap box”called The Randy Report, but that’s my birthday wish.  Do something nice for the kids out there that have no support. If I can’t get world peace, a cure for HIV and marriage equality – which admittedly takes more than the actions of one – I’d like to ask this. Anyone can contribute to helping homeless youth if they choose to do so. And it will make a difference in a life.  A very important life.

One great place to start, if you don’t have a place in mind, is the Ali Forney Center in NYC.  The Center provides support and housing for LGBT homeless youth.  They rock and make the most of your donations.

No money in these tough times?  No prob – can you donate time?  That’s my plan.  Instead of planting myself in front of my TV at night, I’m looking at helping out at local support centers here in Las Vegas.  Everything helps.

There. That’s my birthday wish.  Help these kids.

Please.

Thanks for reading 🙂

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NYC budget cuts will eliminate 160 youth shelter beds

Carl Siciliano
Carl Siciliano

NYC Mayor Bloomberg’s newly released budget cuts $7 million to the city’s Runaway and Homeless Youth Services, and plan to eliminate 160 youth shelter beds.

Carl Siciliano, executive director of the Ali Forney Center, NYC’s largest LGBT homeless youth shelter, released a statement this morning:

“Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to throw 160 homeless children out of their shelter beds and into the streets is cruel, reckless and contemptible. These cuts create an even bigger crisis for the LGBT teens who are thrown out of their homes and forced to endure homelessness on the streets of our city. The LGBT community needs and demands political leaders who will protect our children. Instead, Mayor Bloomberg has proposed eliminating more than half of their shelter beds. The Ali Forney Center, and all those who work with and care about LGBT homeless youth, will not be silent in the face of this decision, which offends us as a community and needlessly puts our young people in harm’s way.”
 

According to the Center:

Today’s cuts come in spite of the fact that the need for youth shelter beds continues to grow; in 2011 alone, the waiting list for AFC’s 77 shelter beds grew to 199 youths – an increase of 40 percent over the prior year.  In total, the city only funds 250 shelter beds, for a population of 4,000 homeless youth.   In response to this crisis, the Ali Forney Center and a number of allied LGBT organizations have launched the Campaign for Youth Shelter.  This initiative calls on New York City and State to back an additional $3 million in annual funding, set aside to create 100 new shelter beds every year.  The Campaign today calls for the city to raise its Runaway and Homeless Youth Services budget from the just-announced $5 million to $13.5 million, both revoking today’s cuts and including the city’s half of the annual $3 million.
(source)
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16th Annual Webby Award Nominations: “A Day In Our Shoes”

The nominees for the 16th annual Webby awards were announced and a web video from In The Life about homelessness among LGBT youth made the list.

“A Day in Our Shoes” tells one story representative of the estimated 1,500 homeless LGBT youth in New York City. The government funds just 200 beds to keep them off the streets.

In The Life, which is celebrating its 20th season this year, was nominated in the “Public Service and Activism” category.
(source)