Photo Courtesy of Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
According to the City, the task force builds upon initiatives taken by the de Blasio administration to combat youth homelessness, including the 2017 opening of Marsha’s House in the Bronx – the first-ever shelter for LGBTQ young people in the City adult shelter system.
By Forum Staff
The de Blasio administration on Thursday launched the Youth Homelessness Taskforce – a group comprised of 15 City agencies and initiatives, 26 nonprofits, and 10 youth leaders from the Youth Action Board, in partnership with the NYC Coalition on the Continuum of Care, that will coordinate a six-month community process resulting in a strategic plan that will inform the City’s next steps for preventing and ending youth homelessness.
“Building on existing initiatives, this work group will put forth new ideas to prevent youth homelessness, while ensuring that those who are in our care have the ability to leave with the appropriate resources to live healthy and productive lives,” said Dr. Herminia Palacio, deputy mayor for Health and Human Services.
The YHT includes participation from the Administration for Children’s Services, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Department of Social Services/Department of Homeless Services, Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration, Department of Youth and Community Development, Housing Preservation Department, Department of Education, and City University of New York. Other City initiatives participating in these efforts include the Unity Project, Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence, NYC Economic Opportunity, Center for Youth Employment, Office of Food Policy, Young Men’s Initiative and Center for Youth Employment.
Nonprofit providers include The Coalition for Homeless Youth, Ali Forney Center, The Legal Aid Society, The Door, Sheltering Arms, Good Shepherd Services, Covenant House, Supportive Housing Network of New York, Jericho Project, Safe Horizon, Bailey House, GEMS, CSH, Children’s Village, West End Residences, Point Source Youth, Urban Justice Center, Princess Janae Place, Destination Tomorrow, Hetrick-Martin Institute, Advocates for Children, Youth Invincibles, Homeless Services United, Coalition for the Homeless, Gay Men’s Health Crisis, and Volunteers of America Greater New York.
“Every New York City child deserves a home, and that’s why the City’s first-ever Youth Homelessness Taskforce is so important: It is a groundbreaking step forward to help address youth homelessness here in New York City,” said Administration for Children’s Services Commissioner David Hansell.
