Why We're Here

Trinity Place Shelter Addresses an Urgent Need

Currently, it is estimated that there are as many as 8,000 homeless LGBTQ homeless youth/young adults in NYC. The vast majority of these youth/young adults are Latino or African American.

Some of the youth/young adults have been rejected by their families elsewhere and find their way to NYC, while many others are from NYC itself. A clear majority of the youth/young adults from NYC are from low-income, underserved communities of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens or Harlem.

The youth/young adults are at high risk of suicide, HIV/AIDS, abuse, violence and trauma. The youth/young adults are vulnerable and this is a critical time to intervene and support their exodus from chronic homelessness and worse.

Most safe shelters for these youth/young adults have a limit of 30 days or less and many do not allow youth over the age of 21. We recognize that 30 days or less is hardly enough time for a young person to gain the education and skills needed to find a job and housing.Those above the age of 21 are often underserved especially the many young people who have "aged out" of the foster care system. This is particularly true for LGBTQ youth, many of whom have suffered abuse and some of whom have had to turn to drugs and sex work to survive.

For these reasons, we have chosen to open and operate a transitional shelter where youth between the ages of 18-24 can stay as long as they are making progress toward their goals.