New York City has opened the nation\u2019s first taxpayer-funded shelter just for homeless transgender people \u2014 blowing $63 million ($97 million AUD) on what critics have ripped as \u201cprogressive political theater.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Queens shelter, known as Ace\u2019s Places, has 150 beds for trans and gender-nonconforming individuals with nowhere else to sleep, the Department of Social Services announced Tuesday, proudly touting it as \u201cthe nation\u2019s first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has a full-time psychiatrist on site, as well as clinical staff and social workers, officials said. Those staying there will also get perks, including culinary and GED classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNew York City has long been a leader in advancing LGBTQ+ rights and protections, and we\u2019reproud to continue that tradition with the opening of the nation\u2019s first city-funded shelter dedicated to supporting transgender individuals,\u201d DHS administrator Joslyn Carter said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Critics, though, were quick to rip the eye-watering $63 million it will cost the city through 2030.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEvery New Yorker should feel safe in our shelter system. But instead of fixing the system for everyone, the city is spending $63 million to build a separate facility based on gender identity,\u201d minority council leader Joann Ariola told The Post.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat money should\u2019ve gone to hiring more [Department of Homeless Services] police officers and social workers to make all of our facilities safer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInstead, we are just further segregating the homeless system and ignoring the very real problems in favor of progressive political theater,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The city is already required to provide at least 30 homeless shelter beds specifically for trans people as part of a legal settlement reached in 2021 when the city was sued for failing to protect transgender homeless people from harassment and discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While fully funded by the city, the new shelter in Long Island City is being run by nonprofit Destination Tomorrow, getting its name from founder Sean Ebony Coleman\u2019s late mom, who was known as Ace, according to Gothamist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe city is keeping in line with what New York City has always been, a sanctuary city, a safe haven, but more importantly, a trendsetter when it comes to LGBTQ rights,\u201d Coleman, who identified as trans masculine, told the outlet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park hailed the new facility, saying the shelter would be important in \u201cstrengthening the safety net for transgender New Yorkers at a time when their rights are roundly under attack.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAce\u2019s Place will offer Transgender New Yorkers a safe place to heal and stabilize in trauma-informed settings with the support of staff who are deeply invested in their growth and wellbeing,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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