h/t: Jasmynecannick.com
In New York City a very disproportionate number (up to 40%) of homeless youth identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered (LGBT). Some of these young people face discrimination and physical assault in the very places they go for help. To make matters worse, there is currently no permanent housing with supportive services for this population of youth in New York City.
West End Intergenerational Residence, in collaboration with musical artist Cyndi Lauper and her manager, Lisa Barbaris, is seeking to address the issue of homeless LGBT youth by creating the True Colors Residence (TCR), a new construction with 30 studio apartments and program space on 154th Street in Central Harlem.
It will be built from the ground up so residents will have a brand new, modern building with studio apartments, as well as both indoor and outdoor community space to socialize or attend educational and recreational programs. Each resident will be responsible for paying an affordable rent based on their income, and will receive ongoing assistance with obtaining employment that is best suited to their individual interests and skills.
Although TCR will not require participation in its programs, a variety of social and educational support services will be available to all who request it. The primary goal is to provide a physically and emotionally safe and supportive environment that will empower young residents to be the self-loving, happy, and successful individuals they were meant to be.
ONLY MEMBERS OF MANHATTAN’S COMMUNITY BOARD 10 SHOULD SIGN THIS PETITION. Manhattan Community Board 10 encompasses Central Harlem and the Polo Grounds – bounded approximately by Fifth Avenue (on the east) and St. Nicholas Ave (on the west) and Central Park North (on south) and 160th Street and/or the Harlem River (on north). If you are unsure whether or not you live in CD10, please check here: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/lucds/mn10profile.pdf.
You must include your home address along with your name for your signature to be valid. WE MUST BE ABLE TO VERIFY THAT YOU LIVE WITHIN COMMUNITY BOARD 10. Please note, however, that street addresses will not be viewable by the public and will only be seen by representatives of West End, TCR, and Community Board 10.
For more information on West End and the True Colors Residence, please visit www.intergenerational.org.
Petition:I live in Manhattan Community Board #10 and I fully support West End’s efforts to build the True Colors Residence at 267-269 West 154th Street.I urge CB10 to support these worthy efforts to provide LGBT youth with permanent housing and life skill services.
Posted on November 10, 2008 by D. Bell