By Dan Avery - NBC News
This summer, New York City will launch the nation's largest and most comprehensive job development program for at-risk LGBTQ + youth.
The NYC Unity Works initiative, with a budget of $ 2.6 million, which will reach 90 participants over the next four years,
is aimed at young adults ages 16-24 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
.
Along with job training, the program will provide educational opportunities, mental health services, paid internships, and job placement, all with the goal of securing long-term employment and a secure financial future.
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The program is an offshoot of the NYC Unity Project, a citywide effort to help at-risk LGBTQ + youth that was launched in 2017 by New York City's First Lady Chirlane McCray, wife of the Mayor, the Democrat Bill de Blasio.
In a statement, McCray explained that Unity Works "marks the first time a city has taken this set of comprehensive steps to provide training, mental health services and social support that are critical to the long-term stability and success of youth. LGBTQ + ".
Ashe McGovern, executive director of the Unity Project and senior LGBTQ + policy advisor in De Blasio's office, praised McCray for prioritizing
queer
youth
.
"I can say unequivocally that if the first lady was not in the city council defending this project, it would not exist,"
said McGovern, who uses neutral pronouns to refer to genders.
“She is personally committed to that.
She is pressured for it, "he added.
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The pilot program will be run through the Department of Youth and Community Development in partnership with the New York City Youth Employment Center and the Ali Forney Center, the nation's largest LGBTQ + homeless youth service provider.
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Initially scheduled for summer 2020, the program was postponed until July 1 due to the coronavirus pandemic
.
Its launch comes just over a year after the Supreme Court ruled that LGBTQ + people are protected from employment discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
But a Supreme Court ruling is not a magic bullet, McGovern warned.
"Nondiscrimination policies do not update themselves. They do not automatically create a path to success for people who have been marginalized throughout their lives. Who have been rejected by their families. They do not teach you how to present yourself in the proper attire. nor to understand the technicalities of a job. We need to give young people the skills to be competitive in jobs. It is a major paradigm shift, "he argued.
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A recent survey by The Trevor Project, a nonprofit organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ + youth, revealed that 35% of youth in this community experience job discrimination.
For young transgender people, that percentage rises to 61%.
Up to 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ +
, according to numerous studies.
Many are forced to leave their homes due to lack of support and seek acceptance in large (and typically expensive) progressive cities like New York.
Without a permanent address, suitable work clothes, or even a permanent Internet connection, they can be excluded from the job market.
New York City's First Lady Chirlane McCray speaks as activists demonstrate in support of LGBTQ rights at City Hall on October 8, 2019 Drew Angerer / Getty Images
"A lot of them are literally in survival mode,"
McGovern said of Unity Works' target candidates.
“There is no space, time, or support to think long-term or feel energized and happy about the future.
We are trying to offer that to them, "he added.
To ensure their success, staff will assist participants with challenges such as changing identity documents and accessing public benefits.
And participating agencies and employers are expected to demonstrate responsiveness and cultural competence.
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In addition to two years of direct services, Unity Works participants will receive an additional year of follow-up from social workers and therapists.
"We know that LGBTQ + youth are largely homeless because their family rejected them," McGovern recalled.
“They may face rejection from their peers, from the school, or from the community.
It's not enough to just give people resume building tips and say 'good luck'.
This program is a broader support system to help them feel empowered, "he explained.
Mario Smith, a 20-year-old who identifies as transgender and non-binary and uses gender-neutral pronouns, noted that Unity Works has the potential to change lives.
"Giving trans people the tools to work and educate themselves is not a handout. You are going to create such a productive group of people who can help their community," they said.
Smith immigrated to the United States from Jamaica as a teenager and worked with the Ali Forney Center to obtain a green card and a home.
Now they are enrolling in Unity Works to study psychology and eventually become an advocate for youth health.
[40% of LGBTQ + youth in the United States considered suicide in the past year, according to a survey]
"Everyone is at a different time in their lives," they
said.
“Some people need work, others need help to continue their education.
There is no simple answer.
This program is tailored to each individual, "he explained.
As much as Unity Works benefits Smith and the other New York-based participants, McGovern is thinking of something even bigger.
"Ultimately, we want to build a model that we can test and take to other jurisdictions.
I want this to be so successful that it is replicated across the country," he
said.
