LGBTQ Support | The Salvation Army USA Individual projects can use these brief scenarios and discussion points as the foundation of staff training sessions to support transgender-inclusive projects. sign-up for the newsletter. This is why The Salvation Army in Southern Nevada created a safe dorm in Las Vegas to offer safety and shelter to this group, which is statistically more vulnerable to assault. Raffin serves as the Bright Star board president and continues Jons vision. In every ZIP code of America, services are offered without discrimination.. assisting in getting homeless off the streets and into housing. Up to 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ, while the general youth population is only 10% LGBTQ. Courtyard Homeless Resource Center The shelter moved hundreds of its occupants to a temporary makeshift. services through a variety partners, the cycle of homelessness can be Media Blitz to focus on Homelessness June 29th, Civil Rights & Criminalization of Homelessness. A Renaissance man, the young Gathercole excelled at handcrafts, sewing, painting, carpentry and design. According to a survey of homeless service providers administered by the Williams Institute at UCLA, 68% of the homeless youth they served had a history of family rejection. 2023 US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Resources for Homeless LGBTQ Individuals in Crisis, file a housing discrimination complaint online, Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, Equal Access in Accordance with Gender Identity Final Rule, Guide to Support Equal Access in Shelters and Projects, The National Center for Transgender Equality, The National Network to End Domestic Violence, The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence, The Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. She helped compile newscasts and provided coverage for and about the people of Southern Nevada, as well as major events such as the October 1 shooting on the Las Vegas strip, protests of racial injustice, elections and more. Coronavirus: Las Vegas Parking Lot Converted Into Homeless Shelter In the past, Bright Star also helped to provide an LGBTQIA safety dorm at the Salvation Army, to provide a safer place for those in fear of experiencing homo/transphobia at the hands of other patrons. With hope. The goal was to learn about street youths needs from their perspective, to better understand which services youth find helpful or not helpful, and to identify alternative services they feel could be useful to them. The Salvation Army is committed to serving the LGBTQ community through Shelter Almost one-third of transgender people have been rejected from an emergency shelter. The Salvation Army recognizes the need for all people, regardless of income, to have access to rehabilitation programs. SNAPS In Focus: Equal Access for Transgender People. Resource Engagement), team can be reached at Help them access the resources they need to thrive. Join us, groups are free at meet at The LGBTQIA+ Center (401 S. Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas, NV 89101). Clark County, NV Or use the link below to send us a message. Yes. We welcome and celebrate the diversity. Our services are equally available to anyone, and our commitment to provide service without discrimination is an extension of the love of God, who tells us in John 15:12, This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you.. Donate now. The Salvation Army USA serves more than 23 million Americans every year. In Houston, our Young Adult Resource Center provides day shelter to young adults who are homeless, many of whom identify as LGBTQ+. And without discrimination. Family rejection and discrimination and violence have contributed to a large number of transgender and other LGBQ-identified youth who are homeless in the United States - an estimated 20-40% of the more than 1.6 million homeless youth. At Covenant House, diversity and inclusion don't end at intake. But not only are LGBTQ+ youth at higher risk of homelessness in the U.S., they also face, among all young people experiencing homelessness, greater risks of "high levels of hardship." 18,874 were here. Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up! Waldron says the community can help provide support for residents in finding employment or acquiring job search skills and tools. Get help by calling 702-229-6117 or [email protected] . Federal regulations that govern certain state processes for issuing federally accepted ID cards make obtaining these cards more difficult for homeless individuals. Helping those in need is the heart of our mission. The Salvation Army created a dorm in Las Vegas to offer safety and shelter to this group, which is statistically more vulnerable to assault. All rights reserved. Providing Shelter for Youth Facing Homelessness | Covenant House Covenant House, the largest provider of services to young people facing homelessness and survivors of human trafficking in the Americas, is committed to ensuring that all of our houses across our movement are welcoming, affirming, and safe for young people who identify as LGBTQ+. HELP of Southern Nevada's Shannon West Homeless Youth Center (SWHYC) provides services for at-risk youth, age 16-24, that are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless. Don't turn away. Ronda Churchill/Las Vegas Review-Journal. 461 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10001 | 800-388-3888 | Email us [email protected] How does The Salvation Army respond to allegations of discrimination? Many LGBTQ youth have been abused at homeless shelters, especially those meant for adults, while many others avoid shelters altogether. This second edition of At the Intersections reveals what has changed in recent years regarding our understanding of LGBTQ youth homelessness, and how to use that information to make youth homelessness a rare, brief, and one-time experience. Syncere Harris has stayed at the safety dorm. Its message is based on the Bible. The Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center (RHYTTAC) is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration on Children and Families (ACF), and the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) as the training and technical assistance provider for all Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) grantees. Bright Star Foundation opens LGBTQ housing - Las Vegas Spectrum Claude and Jon had been together for 41 years. Gurneys Love Letters arrives in time for Valentines Day, The Center receives a $10,000 grant for its pharmacy addition, Nevadas criminalization of HIV must stop now, Vegas Astrology: World events are not your fault, Scorpio; do what, Current voters support marriage equality by two thirds, Remembering Terry Wilsey: Steve Friess pays tribute to the longtime LGBTQ community member, Cortez Masto pushes for cost-saving energy efficiency and proper ventilation in K-12 schools, We Need to Talk, UNLV Libraries panel discussions examine systemic racism and possible solutions. Years of research and countless studies have repeatedly shown that discrimination threatens not only access to housing but the stability of communities. Las Vegas Homeless Shelters We provide a directory of shelters that provide assistance to the homeless. We believe the world is enriched by a diversity of cultures and ethnicities. However, few existing studies of youth engaged in survival sex use peer-to-peer interviews to explore LGBTQ youths perspectives on their own experiences, circumstances, service needs, and desires for individual and social change. calendar of activities and supportive services provided at the courtyard These trauma-informed services were created with the goal of positive youth development and are culturally appropriate and specific to LGBTQ+ youth. Juan Salinas, guest services coordinator for The Salvation Army, looks out over the transition . Support for organizations are available in the following states. Such equal opportunity for employment will apply to recruitment and hiring, training, promotion, salaries and other compensation, transfers and layoffs or termination. The Salvation Army seeks to be a welcome, safe place for all people. Abuse or harassment from other shelter residents or staff. The study concludes by suggesting issues for policymakers and practitioners to consider related to collecting data on, and serving, this population. Some of the existing literature assumes that young men and transgender youth who engage in survival sex do so voluntarily or as a by-product of a deviant homosexual subculture; others argue that unlike female youth, male youth take only pleasure from engagement in the sex trade or approach such engagement as a coming-of-age rite. LGBTQ+ Support We serve the most vulnerable regardless of age, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The Salvation Army is one of the largest if not the largest non-governmental providers of services to the LGBTQ+ community. Harris said at other shelters some women have asked him to leave because they view him as "too masculine.". John Waldron, The Centers CEO, said that both buildings, which opened a few months ago are already almost full, showing the need for this type of sustainable housing. The mission of The Shade Tree is to provide safe shelter to homeless and abused women and children in crisis and to offer life-changing services promoting stability, dignity and self-reliance. Homeless Services - Las Vegas services building, a day room, and shower and restroom facilities. In late 2020, Bright Star, in collaboration with The Center, expanded its mission to provide more accessible, affordable and inclusive housing for vulnerable LGBTQIA people of all ages, struggling to find long-term stability. HUD and other Federal partners, including the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), support a national focus on preventing and ending homelessness among LGBTQ youth and ending all forms of discrimination against all members of the LGBTQ community in housing and shelter. Ask a basic policy or reporting system question. Youth like Rubi, who experienced family rejection and found community and opportunity at Covenant House New Orleans. Devastating tornado rips through Virginia Beach - Daily Mail Resources and assistance to support HUD's community partners. Final Rule: Equal Access in Accordance with an Individuals Gender Identity in Community Planning and Development Programs. She had been robbed and lost all of her identification and documents. Courtyard is open seven days a week 24 hours a day. Salvation Army Insists It's on Our Side -Really, Transgender homeless finding more options in Las Vegas (Las Vegas Review-Journal), Columbus Dispatch article on The Salvation Army and the LGBTQ+ Community, In the Spirit: Gay Man Recalls Kindness Shown by Salvation Army (Wisconsin State Journal), Setting the record straight on the Salvation Army (San Diego Gay & Lesbian News), The Salvation Army's Response to Australian Radio Interview, San Francisco: Why The Salvation Army has a presence at Pride events, services are equally available to anyone, and, homeless shelters, transitional housing programs, permanent supportive housing services, and re-entry resources. The Salvation Army is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we provide the same benefits to all of our employees. While in the shelter, clients will be able to take showers, do laundry, and stay hydrated. Like other homeless individuals, LGBT young people experience significant challenges while homelessincluding limited access to food, shelter, health care, education, and employment. H omelessness is a perennial crisis in southern Nevada, with at least 6,500 people camped on streets or in storm drains, many of them battling addiction. All people who come to us for services are offered assistance according to their need and our capacity to help. Yes. If we have the capacity to help, we will help. The Salvation Army is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to providing a respectful environment for all applicants and employees that is free from unlawful discrimination or harassment based on age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected by law. True Colors United - Home With love. Bright Star Foundation owns and operates two four-plexes in an area near the Boulevard Mall, just off Maryland Parkway. Shelter staff need to be trained on how to be an ally to LGBT individuals and written policies must be put in place to keep discrimination from occurring. Its a youth issue. Get Real-Time Updates Covenant House Annual Report There are several projects across the country that target services and resources to LGBT individuals. We embrace talented people regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center. While in Billings, Amanda began her transition surgery. As a community-based program, Safe Place designates businesses and organizations as Safe Place locations, making help readily available to youth in communities across the country. The program provides emergency shelter, crisis stabilization, and short-term housing options to young people in the Greater Washington region. The buildings have 17 bedrooms that are rented at subsidized rates in an effort to provide stable housing to individuals who might otherwise be homeless. Dedicated shelters for LGBTQ people and youth provide an opportunity for a safe space to provide dedicated services for those who need it most. To uplift and assist young adults transitioning out of foster care, originating from Poverty-stricken areas, or facing disadvantaged circumstances. It consists of 24 beds, case management services, and an array of support from various community-based organizations currently working with LGBTQ+ youth. The findings illustrate that, while challenging, community-wide planning to address LGBTQ youth homelessness is possible with buy-in, resources, and a collective willingness to invest time in a planning process. "LGBTQ Youth Homelessness in America," Voices of Youth Count, Chapin Hall, University of Chicago, 2018; "Without a Home: The National Youth Homelessness Survey," 2016; Every Day I Live in Fear: Violence and Discrimination Against LGBT People in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, and Obstacles to Asylum in the United States, Human Rights Watch, Oct. 7, 2020. SWHYC provides safe and stable housing, basic needs/food, intensive case management, person centered case plan, housing stability plan, education assistance . The younger partner would have been able to find shelter at Shannon West, but the other partner had just aged out of the youth shelter and so the two chose to live on the street rather than be separated. How has The Salvation Army committed itself to diversity in its hiring and promotion practices? With hope. The Salvation Army's LGBTQ Safety Dorm fills shelter gap in Las Vegas As the Nation's housing agency, HUD administers programs designed to meet the goal of ensuring decent housing and a suitable living environment for all. Checks can be mailed to Bright Star Foundation at PO Box 50041, Henderson, NV 89016. Read how The Salvation Armys Young Adult Resource Center (YARC) in Houston collaborates (and shares a roof) with Tonys Place, a center for LGBTQ+ youth who do not have stable housing. 3/40 Blueprint was initiated to identify challenges and goals, and help transitional living programs develop solutions better aligned with LGBTQ youths unique needs. If you believe you have experienced (or are about to experience) housing discrimination, you should contact HUD's Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity for help at (800) 669-9777. This approach, together with the awareness we have raised among staff to ensure a welcoming, affirming, and safe space for LGBTQ+ youth, distinguishes Covenant House as a provider of shelter that addresses the whole person, with all of that young person's experience and potential. Through the Thats one of the reasons why the LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada, along with the Salvation Army and the Brightstar Foundation,re-opened a safety dorm this month. Are You 27 Or Older? Like Roommates? You Could Help Keep A - LAist Experiences like this turn what is supposed to be a safe haven into a dangerous place. Current security monitoring is done by the Salvation Army. Amanda had relocated to Billings to make a fresh start after having been savagely beaten in Florida and left in a coma for six months. Hardship includes higher rates of assault, trauma, exchanging sex for basic needs, and early death. Search, Jail Yes. But we serve and love everyone. Get Help | Help Hope Home The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ young people ages 13-24. The Salvation Army USA Serving people in LGBTQIA+ community and their allies experiencing homelessness. What can a person who identifies as LGBTQ+ expect from The Salvation Army? We need to address the role unsafe schools have in promoting youth homelessness, and aggressively address school bullying. broken. Bright Star does plan to acquire more buildings, as the housing is already nearly full. Keeping with Claudes French heritage and Jons love of France, the buildings are named Maison 1 de Jon Gathercole and Maison 2 de Jon Gathercole. A starting point where homeless individuals can go to access resources all in LGBTQ Americans are He said they all look out for each other. Rachel graduated with a bachelor's degree of journalism and mass communications from New Mexico State University. The pair established a successful real estate agency in Santa Barbara, eventually making investments in San Diego, Texas, Utah, Arizona and Las Vegas. You must sign up to participate,. The recommendations are intended to inform replication of similar LGBTQ youth homelessness prevention planning in communities nationwide. National LGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness Research Agenda. Find answers to frequently asked questions. Most referrals come through The LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada, and in fact, the projects executive director is Dr. Ray McFarlane, an employee of The Center, who splits their time between The Center and Bright Star, which reimburses The Center for their salary. In every story, Bright Star and The Center are making a difference in peoples lives, empowering them to take control of their own lives, and have made history in starting the first LGBTQIA housing in Nevada in Jons name. The Salvation Army recognizes the need for all people, regardless of income, to have access to rehabilitation programs. Disclaimer: All peer approved resources shared on the HUD Exchange have been provided by the organization that developed them. The Salvation Armys mission statement is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination. Almost one-third of homeless transgender people have been rejected from an emergency shelter. As one of the nation's largest providers of social services, we understand the importance of helping people maintain their dignity when looking for nutritious food by providing options. Any person who walks through our doors will receive assistance based on their need and our capacity to help. He said LGBTQIA centers in other cities have secured federal grants to subsidize community housing and that The Center will also seek similar funding. Its a homeless issue but its also an LGBTQ issue, MacFarlane continued, "The community has come together to try to address and meet those needs. Almost one-third of transgender people have been rejected from an emergency shelter. How has The Salvation Army demonstrated its commitment to members of the LGBTQ+ community? Those interested also may also work with case managers for additional services and referrals. Despite progress toward hiring equality, LGBTQ Americans often lack access to educational resources, counseling services, and vocational training to help them obtain well-paying jobs. The handsome young couple moved to Santa Barbara where they discovered their life vocation in real estate. Most major U.S. cities including Las Vegas, Nevada, offer some type of shelter for persons in need. Staff, volunteer shortages hurting homeless shelters in Las Vegas. Please check your email for the confirmation message and click on the activation link! Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. LGBT youth who run away and experience homelessness are at high risk for certain negative experiences and outcomes. 26% of homeless LGBTQ youth report being forced out of their homes solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Ultimately, MacFarlane would like to see someone from the LGBTQ community be the staff monitor for the shelter. Equal Access for Transgender People: Supporting Inclusive Housing and Shelters. A majority of homeless LGBTQ people end up on the streets before they turn 18, and one in four is homeless before turning 16. This study is among the first to focus on the experiences of LGBTQ youth, YMSM, and YWSW who have self-reported engagement in survival sex in New York City. the city opened an expansion of the courtyard. Covenant House is aware of the trauma young people experience while facing homelessness as well as of their resilience. Claude says, Jon had the ability to walk into a room full of strangers and leave with at least 20 new friends!. Links to their websites and materials can be found here. The Salvation Army serves everyone. Training Scenarios for Use with Project Staff. ), provides affordable, inclusive housing for community members struggling with stable housing. According to Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, LGBTQ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than non-LGBTQ youth. Donations can be made online atbrightstargives.orgby using the Contact-Donate drop downmenu., Bright Star Foundation opens LGBTQ housing. LGBTQ+ youth are further traumatized by the rejection they have experienced in their families, schools, and communities due to their gender identity or expression or sexual orientation. The Center for American Progress and the Equal Rights Center, or ERC, recently conducted telephone tests on 100 homeless shelters across four states. Walk-in business hours: Monday - Friday 6:30 am - 4:00 pm Veterans Administration Community Resource and Referral Center at VA Northeast Primary Care Clinic 4461 East Charleston Boulevard Las Vegas, NV 89104 (702) 791-9077 (Ask for "homeless programs") Hotlines & Crisis Lines Child Abuse Hotline (702) 399-0081 Crisis Call Center Any person who walks through our doors will receive assistance based on their need and our capacity to help. Margaret Elisabeth, a member of the Covenant House Alumni Community, arrived at Covenant House Texas in the 1980s. We strive to deliver a holistic program encompassing educational and pragmatic resources that enable our youth to flourish in life. administration building, pet kennel and parking lot. National Center for Biotechnology Information In Minneapolis, the Harbor Light Center shelters approximately 550 individuals every night, and its estimated that 20% of those people are members of the LGBTQ+ community. And, while LGBTQ+ youth make up only 7% of the total U.S. youth population, they comprise an astounding 40% of all young people experiencing homelessness in the country, according to one estimate. Crossroads' Las Vegas Rehab is the top choice for drug addiction treatment in the Southern Nevada, offering the best substance abuse detox and residential drug & alcohol rehab for men & women across Nevada. If you are aware of a specific situation where a person has been the target of discrimination, please contact your Salvation Army leadership, because this is contrary to our mission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.. According a survey of homeless service providers . The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. They said up to 40 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ. Our 7,600 service centers across the country are uniquely positioned to meet need, and they do so without discrimination or asking questions about a persons orientation or beliefs. Four out of ten homeless youth Office Phone: 1-702-385-0072. The following laws offer protection for transgender people in housing: While 18 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico explicitly prohibit anti-LGBT housing discrimination, trans people are also protected under the federal fair housing law under the category of sex discrimination. We should encourage federal, state, and local agencies to ensure that LGBTQ youth are placed in supportive foster homes. sleeping allowing for 800 guests at a time to have a safe place to go and