Are you a homeless New Yorker?
Are you also trans or gender non-conforming?
Well then boy person, do I have the place for you!
Beyond.
Parody.
I mean ...
The NYC Department of Social Services (DSS) and Destination Tomorrow today announced the opening of Ace's Place, the country's first-ever city-funded shelter dedicated to serving and supporting Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals experiencing homelessness. Against the backdrop of a sustained attack on Transgender rights nationwide, this landmark moment serves to strengthen New York City's legacy as a sanctuary for the LGBTQ+ community. Ace's Place will provide high-quality transitional housing and specialized support for TGNC New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. Through this first-of-its-kind program, the city stands as a beacon of safety, dignity, and empowerment for TGNC community members navigating housing insecurity.
New York City partnered up with Destination Tomorrow, a "national LGBTQ+ organization that serves the community through educational, financial, housing, health and personal support programs," to create this "TGNC" homeless shelter.
They'll even offer them training in culinary arts!
This program will employ innovative approaches to support shelter residents, including a culinary arts program, taking advantage of Destination Tomorrow's two state-of-the-art commercial kitchens.
And let's see how much New York City is spending on this trans and gender non-conforming shelter:
From the left-of-center New York news outlet, Gothamist:
The city is fully funding the facility in Long Island City, which will cost $65 million to operate through 2030.
What's more, this isn't just some organic thing that happened; the city was slightly nudged into it.
The stand-alone shelter is part of a settlement reached with a transgender rights activist in 2021. The deal required the city to set aside beds for transgender and gender non-conforming people across the boroughs or create a separate shelter for them.
Yeah ...
Because people think they were born in the wrong body they also need to have their own special bed provided by the government!
What are we doing, New York City???
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