The Mission

Within the context of the Anglican tradition of profound respect for the dignity of every person, and in response to the lack of current services targeted to their needs,

Episcopal Community Services of Long Island is partnering with The Ali Forney Center to  meet basic emergency needs, increase coping and decision making capacities, and assist in planning for the re-integration into community living, of homeless and  runaway youth who identify as Lesbian Gay Bisexual, Transgendered and Questioning (LGBTQ), in the New York City area.

The Goal:

The Facility at St. Andrew’s will strengthen family relationships, (when possible and appropriate), and help youth transition to safe and appropriate alternative living arrangements where they can become independent, self-sufficient, contributing members of society.

The Need:

There is an ongoing homeless youth crisis in New York City and nation-wide. In New York City, that number is believed to be between 12,000 and 15,000.
Approximately 3,000 to 8,000 homeless youth in New York City are LGBTQ.
This calculation is based on research that demonstrates that 20 to 40 percent of all homeless youth identify LGBTQ

Some Additional Reading:

Homeless LGBT Youths Often Face Violent Life on the Streets

For Parents of Gay Children

I Have Changed My Mind - The Right Rev. Mark Sisk

Some Resolutions from the General Convention

Some Facts on Homeless Youth in NYC

Volunteer Your Time (click for application)

St. Andrew’s Center for LGBT Youth will open in Astoria this month.  Please help us get these young people off the streets and into our transitional center where they can learn the skills to lead productive lives and become valuable members of a community.  St. Andrew’s Center plans to begin by housing 12 residents as well as councilors.

Volunteer Your Money (click here and designate program)

• $25 will buy drinking glasses
  
• $25 will buy a blanket- we need at least a dozen
  
• $30 will buy cake pans
  
• $30 will buy a roasting pan
  
• $35 will buy a garbage pail
  
• $40 will buy a pasta pot
  
• $48 dollars will buy salad/cake plates
  
• $55 will buy coffee cups
  
• $60 will buy 2 large frying pans
  
• $65 will buy dinner plates
  
• $120 will buy bed pillows
  
• $200 will buy a superior first aid kit
  
• $300 will buy a television
  
• $500 will buy clothes dryer

We also need donations to purchase basic foods to stock the kitchen, cleaning supplies, detergent.  Any donation will help.  When we all work together with God’s help we can accomplish anything! 

There is a lot that happens around the world we cannot control. We cannot stop earthquakes, we cannot preventdroughts, and we cannot prevent all conflict, but when we know where the hungry, the homeless and the sick exist, then we can help.
Jan Schakowsky