GothamistBy Karen YiAugust 5, 2025New York City has officially opened its first shelter for transgender and gender-nonconforming people who are homeless.Officials say it’s the only city-funded shelter of its kind in the country and will help 150 transgender New Yorkers as the Trump administration has rolled back rights for the trans community, barring access to medical care, military service and federal documents that reflect their gender identity. The city is fully funding the facility in Long Island City, which will cost $65 million to operate through 2030.The stand-alone shelter is part of a settlement reached with a transgender rights activist in 2021. The deal required the city to set aside beds for transgender and gender non-conforming people across the boroughs or create a separate shelter for them.
When I was the Executive Director of CT TransAdvocacy Coalition I got a call from a homeless trans woman, I contacted a friend at the Connecticut Fair Housing Center. The woman was placed in a male shelter (Which was against CT law) and the other residents were harassing her so the shelter threw her out in the sub-zero weather. And she called CTAC... me. Through my friend he was able to place her in a women's shelter.
She said the city places homeless individuals in shelters that align with their gender identity. Already, the city is required, as a result of past litigation, to provide at least 30 beds across the city for transgender and gender nonconforming people. Now that the new shelter is open, transgender and gender nonconforming people can either use beds in existing shelters or transfer to the new specialized shelter.
Like they should! But I understand that some of us are more inclined to go to a shelter that is for us only because of of harassment.
“ They're in an environment that completely affirms who they are and how they see themselves, which mentally gives you the strength to face any challenge you have,” Coleman said.
In today's political environment I am concerned that Trump's Gestapo will try to close it as being discriminating.
What do you think?
At least here, a person will be safe, hopefully. The staff can be trained, the rules in place, but a person can get in the way and make life very miserable for Trans folks. I have always supported an LGBT-inclusive shelter for our community. Too many nuts running around who could be out to get us. Hopefully, in a trans-only shelter, one could sleep with both eyes closed. I would have no desire to put my life in danger just to prove a point. We are dealing with an uncivilized society here in the US, and it's getting worse every day. Whatever it takes to keep our community safe, I am all for it.
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