Ali Forney Center Explained

Ali Forney Center
Named After:Ali Forney
Formation:2002
Abbreviation:AFC
Founder:Carl Siciliano
Founding Location:New York
Type:Non-governmental organization
Leader Title:Executive Director
Leader Name:Alexander Roque

The Ali Forney Center (AFC), based in New York City, is the largest LGBT community center helping LGBTQ homeless youth in the United States.[1] The AFC both manages and develops transitional housing for its clients.[2] AFC helps approximately 2,000 youth clients each year, primarily between sixteen and twenty-four years old.[3] AFC is named after Ali Forney, a transgender youth who was murdered in New York in 1997.

Description

AFC has 15 residential sites in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. In 2012, AFC provided 77 beds a night for homeless LGBTQ youth.[4] AFC also runs a drop-in center, open 24/7, where clients can apply for housing, receive food and hygiene services and can access free medical and mental health care . AFC Founder Carl Siciliano says that the clients served by the drop-in center are often in the most acute crisis.[5] AFC serves the LGBTQ population because they represent approximately forty percent of New York's young homeless people.[6]

History

AFC has served homeless LGBTQ youth in New York since 2002.[7] The organization was founded by Carl Siciliano. When AFC first opened, it had only six beds.[8] Siciliano, who knew and respected Forney, recalls that it was a challenge to secure funding for the first two years of the organization's operation.[9] By 2007, AFC had 32 beds, 50 staff and offered wraparound services including free medical care, HIV testing, hygiene services, job training and job placement through the drop-in center.[10]

During the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the drop-in center was flooded. A fundraiser hosted by Ally Sheedy helped raise money for the organization to relocate and reopen the drop-in center. An additional $100,000 was raised in one day to help the organization through word of mouth and social media.

In July 2015, AFC broke ground on its new Bea Arthur Residence.[11] The housing site is named after the actress, Bea Arthur, who left $300,000 in her will to AFC.[12] Arthur's endowment to the shelter enabled it stay open during the recession in 2009.[13] In 2012, the New York City Council and the Manhattan borough president provided $3.3 million to renovate the building that will house the Bea Arthur Residence. In addition to the money that she left in her will, Arthur also helped raise $40,000 for AFC in 2005 with her one-woman show, "Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends."[14]

The organization has received donations from other sources as well in order to expand and help maintain operating costs. In 2009, the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island donated $200,000 to help the organization stay open after losing nearly $450,000 in funding due to the economic downturn.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Rawles. Timothy. "Golden Girls" actress Bea Arthur funds LGBT homeless shelter in her will.. July 21, 2015. San Diego Gay & Lesbian News. July 19, 2015. July 21, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150721233550/http://sdgln.com/news/2015/07/19/golden-girls-actress-bea-arthur-funds-lgbt-homeless-shelter-her-will#sthash.p2H40xX2.dpbs. live.
  2. News: The Star Entrepreneur Donates So That Others May Build Homes, Schools. MacBride. Elizabeth. July 14, 2015. Crain's New York Business. July 22, 2015. April 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170429140915/http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20150714/TECHNOLOGY/307129998/this-star-entrepreneur-donates-so-that-others-may-build-homes-schools. live.
  3. News: Church Aids Expansion of Shelter for Gay Youths. Ong. Bao. December 8, 2009. City Room Blog from The New York Times. July 22, 2015. December 11, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171211053846/https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/church-aids-expansion-of-shelter-for-gay-youths/?_r=0. live.
  4. News: Homeless Gay and Transgender Youths Find a New Home in Greenwich Village. Dunlap. David W.. November 20, 2012. City Room Blog of The New York Times. July 22, 2015. September 6, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150906020755/http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/20/homeless-gay-and-transgender-youths-find-a-new-home-in-greenwich-village/. live.
  5. News: Ali Forney Center Throws Fundraising Bash for Flooded Drop-In Center. D'Addario. Daniel. November 9, 2012. New York Observer. July 22, 2015. Regional Business News - EBSCO. July 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230716234521/https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bwh&AN=nyo.09Nov2012132831&site=ehost-live. live.
  6. News: New Report Finds Sex Equals Survival for Many Homeless LGBTQ Youth. Lewis. Rebecca. February 25, 2015. WFUV Public Radio. July 22, 2015. National Public Radio. March 4, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105353/http://www.wfuv.org/content/new-report-finds-sex-equals-survival-many-homeless-lgbtq-youth. live.
  7. News: Celebrate Summer with the Ali Forney Center in New York City. Pedro. Joseph. July 9, 2015. Passport Magazine. July 22, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150723001639/http://www.passportmagazine.com/blog/archives/42820-celebrate-summer-with-the-ali-forney-center-in-new-york-city/. July 23, 2015. dead.
  8. News: A Church. A Shelter. Is It Safe?. Thrasher. Steven W.. November 4, 2011. The New York Times. July 22, 2015. February 1, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140201144749/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/nyregion/sylvias-place-faces-licensing-problems.html. live.
  9. Homeless Man Inspires Shelter From the Storm. Beale. Lewis. May 31, 2007. Back Stage East. July 22, 2015. 48. 22. 9. July 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230716234518/https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=25306789&site=ehost-live. live.
  10. The New Order. Henderson. William. September 25, 2007. Advocate. July 22, 2015. 993. 111. July 16, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230716234518/https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=26854835&site=ehost-live. live.
  11. News: Bea Arthur Homeless Shelter Breaks Ground. July 15, 2015. Washington Blade. July 22, 2015. July 22, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150722145451/http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/07/15/bea-arthur-homeless-shelter-breaks-ground/. live.
  12. News: Bea Arthur LGBT Shelter to Break Ground. Garner. Glenn. July 16, 2015. Out. July 22, 2015. July 23, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150723020204/http://www.out.com/popnography/2015/7/16/bea-arthur-lgbt-shelter-break-ground. live.
  13. News: Work Begins in Village on Bea Arthur Residence for LGBT Homeless Youth. July 19, 2015. Metro. July 22, 2015. July 22, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150722171254/http://www.metro.us/new-york/work-begins-in-village-on-bea-arthur-residence-for-lgbt-homeless-youth/zsJogs---ozmTzFItP7neM/. live.
  14. News: Shapiro. Lila. July 21, 2015. A Golden Girl's Legacy Brings Hope to LGBT Youth. Huffington Post. July 22, 2015. July 23, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150723014635/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/a-golden-girls-legacy-brings-hope-to-lgbt-youth_55aeab79e4b07af29d56a484. live.

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