LGBTQ youths lost the support they were granted: who is in charge?

This decision is controversial and painful. And yet it has been made. It has an immediate impact on one of the most vulnerable social groups in New York. Their future is concerned as well, though. Who are we talking about? Homeless LGBTQ youths. Scattered all around NYC, they have never been the lucky ones but manage to survive. Day for day, they asked for a buck to get an occasional meal. No hope. No future. Being queer made it even worse. One day they found themselves in the epicenter of a deadly pandemic, unprotected and neglected. Why so? Just because so many problems have emerged simultaneously.

Why should this problem be in scope? Well, at least because it’s a solution has been again indefinitely postponed. “LGBTQ youth experience high rates of homelessness, unemployment, and hate violence,” reads the statement of Jumaane Williams, Public Advocate. Isn’t it a good enough reason to allocate some funds? Not for Mayor de Blasio. The Department of Youth and Community Development collaborated with the NYC Unity Project and NYC Center for Youth Employment to launch the NYC Unity Works Program. The program goal was to provide opportunities for education and/or employment for homeless LGBTQ youths in NYC.

The initiative received public support and $2.7 million in funding for 4 years. But all of a sudden, it has been canceled by the city authorities. What is especially sad, lots of activists, advocating organizations, and even a group of LGBTQ candidates for the New York City Council called for the program to be supported.“LGBTQI youth are disproportionately experiencing the impact of COVID-19 already, and by suspending or delaying the start of this vital program, the city will be making the decision to negatively impact this population further,” read their letter to NYC authorities. All in vain.

Read more at https://keyou.one/news/lgbtq-youths-lost-the-support-they-were-granted-who-is-in-charge