Homless LGBT Youth Face NY Budget Ax

[The Philosopher]

from Advocate.com

“Governor Cuomo, I want you to understand how terrible things are for homeless kids,” said the letter posted this week by Raciel Castillo. “I want you to understand how mean and reckless it is to cut support for kids out on the streets. I have lots of friends who have nowhere safe to sleep.”

A resident at the Ali Forney Center for homeless LGBT youth in New York City, Castillo is one of many young people, gay and straight, who could be forced to the streets by a budget proposal from Gov. Andrew Cuomo that would eliminate $4.7 million in dedicated funds for homeless and runaway youth, gay and straight, statewide. The stark move is part of a measure that would consolidate 10 social service programs funded at $85 million into a $35 million competitive block grant.

http://advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/03/18/Homeless_Youths_Face_Budget_Ax/">Click Here To Read More

There's also a petition to help save the funding for the shelter:

"Send the Cuomo administration an urgent message that cutting youth shelter beds is the wrong way to deal with a state budget crisis, and will only exacerbate an already epic problem of homelessness among young adult populations in New York. Throwing kids back on the streets during a time of need is no way to solve a budget problem -- financially or morally."

http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-gov-cuomo-dont-abandon-lgbt-homeless-youth">Click Here To Sign Petition