Long time readers readers know the truly distressing state of funding for youth homeless services is big concern of mine. There simply aren't nearly enough beds in New York City to come close to meeting the demand for shelter services. Each night half of kids seeking shelter are turned away for lack of room. Every night a youth spends on the street, or in the subway is a night their lives are truly in grave danger. Shockingly the last New York State budget was trimmed 5% overall, but trimmed Youth Homeless Funding by 50%. Way to share the sacrifice, Albany. Millionaires got a tax break, and homeless kids got the shaft.
Ideally, I hope that our leaders will step up and embrace the plan by Carl Siciliano of the Ali Forney House to add 100 beds a year until the waiting lists are gone.
Until Albany comes to its senses, what can we do?
Drink alcohol, of course.
A fun, cheap and charitable event showed up on my radar. Tomorrow, Thursday from 7 to 10 pm, Urban Justice Center's Peter Cicchino Youth Project project will be holding a $5 (!) fundraiser at one of my favorite neighborhood haunts! Last Exit at 136 Atlantic Ave (in Brooklyn, of course). Map here.
I am further encouraged that it seems to be sponsored heavily by my neighbors at the Brooklyn Law School! And I was under the impression all lawyers were soulless, manipulative sharks that did nothing but tear at the foundation of society in pursuit of their agenda of unbridled greed and selfish gain. (Kidding, my dear mother is an attorney. Yes, I would and have said that to her face.)
From the group's Facebook event:
Come out and support the Urban Justice Center's Peter Cicchino Youth Project!
- DJ AverageJo on the turn tables from 7-9pm
- Queer Drag Performance by SWITCH N' PLAY at 9pm
- Raffle with Great Prizes
- $5 suggested donation at the door
- Event OPEN TO EVERYONE!
- The Urban Justice Center’s Peter Cicchino Youth Project is dedicated to advocating for homeless LGBTQ youth in the New York City area. The Project has helped thousands of teens who have been thrown out of their homes or foster care, often because of homophobia and abuse, to navigate the complicated channels of government benefits, housing, and education.
Peter Cicchino Youth Project staff conduct legal clinics at drop-in centers, counsel clients one-on-one, and engage in systemic advocacy and impact litigation around issues such as the mistreatment of LGBT youth in New York City's foster care and juvenile detention systems. They also work with LGBT young adults who are "aging" out of foster care to ensure that they receive legally required discharge planning, and training for skills they need to successfully transition into independent, adult lives.
Your $5 suggested donation at the door will help support the invaluable work of the Project and will get you discounts at the bar until 10pm!
Win RAFFLE PRIZES from all over Brooklyn and NYC, including:
★ Yankees Tickets
★ Free Haircut from Whistle Salon
★ "Made in Brooklyn" Walking Tour
And Gift Certificates from:
★ Bird (boutique)
★ Morton's Steakhouse
★ Trader Joe's
★ Ozzie’s Coffee
★ Apertivo
★ Culture American Yogurt
★ Vino e Picata Wine Shop
★ Dubuque
★ OTTO
★ Movie Tickets
★ And MORE TO COME!
Performers: Switch n’ Play is a Brooklyn based, NYC-wide, eclectic queer drag ensemble that performs a wide variety of dance and theatrical numbers. DJ Average Jo is a Brooklyn based DJ who throws down hip-hop dancehall and electric house throughout NYC. Both have graciously donated their time to provide music and entertainment for the event.
Thank you to Brooklyn Law School Prof. Schneiderman, Prof. Pinto, Prof. Noferi, Prof. Mazzone, the BLS Library Staff, the BLS Office of Public Service Programs, Dean Cahill, and Dean Jones-Woodin for your contributions and support!
Sponsored by the Brooklyn Law School OUTLaws, National Lawyers Guild - BLS Chapter, and BLSPI.
I'll be there. I hope you'll get a chance to swing by and drop 5 or 10 or 20 bucks in the kitty to reward these do-gooders for their efforts, and of course, support the kids.
If not, you can always donate to the Urban Justice Center here. With our elected "leaders" happily hacking away at their gossamer safety net, these kids need all the well-funded advocacy they can get.