We’ve spent a lot of time on this site pointing out problems with the city’s homelessness policies, and the homeless shelters on 95th street in particular.
But it’s also important to note that other shelters have been embraced by Upper West Siders, and are operating in a way that locals support. Trinity Place Shelter at 164 West 100th street, which serves gay, bisexual and transgendered youth, recently reached its seventh anniversary. and the people we’ve spoken to say the shelter is well-run and doing good work. It has 10 beds and is considered a transitional shelter, helping LGBT youth transition out of the shelter system.
As of a few years ago, the City Council said that there were at least 1,000 homeless LGBT youths in the city.
“In a part of the Upper West Side that has often been divided over how best to provide safety and services for the homeless, Trinity Place Shelter is an outstanding example of success and achievement,” said New York State Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell in a statement.
“Against the most impossible of odds we have remained open the past 2,555 consecutive nights and still remain a desperately needed place of asylum, shelter and support for LGBTQ youth in New York City,” said Executive Director Heidi Neumark. “Well over 300 homeless youth have come from across the US and even far away countries to seek a new start right here in our shelter.”
Trinity Place gets half its funding from the state and half from donations.
Upper West Siders, including groups from the Trinity School, have helped out at the shelter, and Neumark is looking for more people who might be interested in coming by. Once a week, volunteers make meals for the residents, Neumark told us (you would need to cook for about 12 people). And the shelter needs volunteers willing to help supervise on Saturday nights. To learn more about volunteering, click here.
Thanks to Allan Margolin for insight about the shelter. Photo courtesy of Heidi Neumark.
I am not debating the merits of the shelter, but I have just one question: if these are able-bodied youth/young adults, is there some reason they cannot cook their own meals? I mean, I get asking for volunteers to cook for the elderly or mentally ill, or sleeping only shelters, but I wonder why someone needs to cook meals for these individuals, perhaps this is something they should learn for when they get out on their own? Seems like a couple of them can cook for their group on a rotating basis? Am I missing something?
They cook breakfast and dinner for themselves throughout the rest of the week. Cooking dinner and spending time with these young people for one night a week is a really nice way to welcome them to the community. Avi