Brewer questions on undocumented youth transitioning out of shelter

Thank you so much.

I just have one question, which might lead to another one.

This is based on an experience I had with a young person who was in a LGBTQ home in the city, undocumented youth.

So what happens after, I believe after he turned 21, he kind of was not able to continue to participate with a lot of services.

What happens with undocumented youth who are transitioning out of shelter, who can't get into NYCHA or things like that?

What kind of programs or pathways are set up so that they can be successful in the city, at least in securing housing?

Yeah, that's a great question.

And because of the recent surge in immigrants who came in recently, it's been on our minds a lot.

The resources, so we've been expanding the number of shelter beds that are available for, residential beds that are available for 21 to 24-year-olds, so that helps.

Prolong the amount of time that people can stay in our services.

At DYCD, we also, the state has recently

released housing program called the Housing Access Voucher Program that immigrants are eligible for, undocumented individuals are eligible for.

So that's something that is available to New Yorkers.

No, thank you for that.

This was probably like 2017, 2018.

This was before our terrible president right now, or actually after, but it wasn't like this.

So I think it's just interesting to see that there's, I'm glad to hear that, but a gap in how are folks going to be able to get set up and work and get a housing if they're by themselves and have been by themselves for a long time.

Councilmember, I'd like to offer additional supports that are offered through DSS.

As you know, we're committed to connecting New Yorkers to stable housing and keeping them stably housed.

We do have a rental assistance program called SHARE, Special Housing Assistance Resources, funded by the state.

And it is specific for individuals or households that are in shelter that can't access the other government subsidies.

And so that's available to that population.

It is provided irrespective of orientation or expression.

And I just want to add, too, as part of, and I think I mentioned this before you came in, as part of the inherited work the Mayor's Office of LGBTQIA Affairs has inherited from the Unity Project in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Immigration Affairs under Local Law 73.

We're currently working on our rights and resources specifically for migrant LGBTQIA New Yorkers.

And so this will be something.

That we specifically address and including the ways that we disseminate that information to make sure people are aware of the resources and that we're being proactive about it.

I know that the report to council is due in November, I believe, but I think, you know, we're trying to get ahead of schedule as we can.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Chair.

Chairs.

Thank you, Councilmember.