A crucial resource for homeless youth in San Francisco, including a large number of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals, is facing closure on Christmas day due to gentrification -- that is, unless the center can raise the funds it needs to pay its landlord.
Homeless Youth Alliance is an organization that has served over 100 homeless young people daily since opening its doors 12 years ago -- and 49 percent of those youth identify as LGBT. Due to an exponentially increasing real estate market in San Francisco, the building's landlord has given the organization one month to vacate the premises.
"On behalf of all of us at Homeless Youth Alliance, we are grateful for the investment all of our supporters have made in our work, and now we need their help again more than ever," said Executive Director Mary Howe in a statement. "After 12 years of serving up to 150 homeless kids per day in our drop-in center, we've just been informed that our lease will not be renewed beyond the New Year... We want to make sure we do everything within our power to continue to serve the thousands of homeless youth who need our help... We are more determined than ever to continue helping youth get healthy and off the streets. Now is the time for everyone who cares about young people to pitch in. Every dollar counts, from $5 to $500,000."
Would you like to contribute to sustaining this crucial resource for homeless LGBT youth in San Francisco? Click here for more information.
Want to learn more about the realities of LGBT youth homelessness? Watch this video.