Erin Dalton: Affirming environments and specialized shelters
Dalton describes LGBTQIA-affirming requirements at all DHS sites, plus specialized shelters including ACE's Place (150 TGNC beds), Marsha's House (80 LGBTQIA beds), and 42 additional TGNC beds across four boroughs.
All DHS sites and provider locations are required by contract to be LGBTQIA affirming environments.
Our goal is to create safe environments where LGBTQIA individuals are treated with the same degree of respect and dignity as all other identities.
Affirming environments include visible signs in client and staff areas to make clear LGBTQIA people are welcome and valued parts of the community.
For example, DSS ally cards, welcome palm cards, LGBTQIA themed posters.
In addition to the responsibility of all shelter staff to be LGBTQIA affirming environments, DHS also has specialized shelters and beds that are exclusively dedicated to serving the LGBTQIA and TGNC clients.
DHS goal and current practice is for individuals who self-report TGNC to receive expedited placement to a TGNC designated bed if that's what they choose.
This place serves as the nation's first TGNC-specific shelter site that can accommodate 150 residents.
Similarly, Marsha's house focuses on serving the broader spectrum of LGBTQIA residents, accommodating 80 residents overall.
In addition, there are 42 beds at six shelters focused on serving TGNC clients at shelters in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.
Regarding HRA programs, gender identity is considered by HASA when making emergency housing placements and flagged by client's preference.
Domestic violence services supports to both residential and non-residential services that are available to LGBTQIA and TGNC survivors.
Our OCFS licensed
DV shelters and tier two shelters within the DHS system are required to serve all survivors who meet domestic violence eligibility criteria, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.