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Posted by Melanie Nathan, October 07, 2015.

Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), and the Ali Forney Center (AFC) announced three new federal grants to help continue AFC’s important work serving homeless youth in New York City, an estimated 40% of which identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ). Combined, the more than $1 million in federal grants will provide critical resources to AFC, which works with LGBTQ homeless youth on a range of issues, including domestic and sexual violence, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services.

AFC is the largest agency dedicated to LGBTQ homeless youth in the United States, serving close to 1,400 youth per year through 10 housing sites and a multipurpose drop-in center. The new federal funding includes close to $500,000 for substance abuse treatment, mental health services, as well as HIV treatment and testing. More than $300,000 has been awarded for assisting the estimated 25% of homeless youth that have been victims of human trafficking. Additionally, nearly $700,000 in federal funding over the next five years comes from the Office on Violence Against Women to support outreach and awareness campaigns for homeless LGBTQ youth, who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and/or rape at higher rates than the general population.

Below are figures from the three federal grants being awarded to the Ali Forney Center:

•    $331,736.00 — Assisting victims of human trafficking.

•    $499,930.00 — Substance abuse treatment, mental health treatment, HIV and VH testing for LGBTQ youth.

•    $233,295.00 — Youth victims of/exposed to sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and/or rape.

“We have a moral imperative to do all we can to help youth get off the streets and obtain the services they need,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler. “LGBTQ youth are at particular risk of ending up on the street, often being ostracized and cast out of their homes for simply being who they are. With this federal funding, I am happy the Ali Forney Center will be able to continue to serve as a one-stop shop for the LGBTQ homeless youth population, providing crucial counseling and support services to this vulnerable group.”

“With so many LGBT youths in desperate need of our help, I am overwhelmed with gratitude to receive these new federal grants,” said Carl Siciliano, Executive Director of the Ali Forney Center. “With this added support, we will be able to provide vital services to many more of the most vulnerable youths in our community.”