From the
The Ruth Ellis Center:
The Ruth Ellis Center – the Midwest’s only organization, and one of four in the nation, solely dedicated to serving runaway, homeless and at-risk lesbian, gay, bi-attractional, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth - will partner with the White House and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to hold an LGBT Conference on Housing & Homelessness in Detroit on March 9. The conference, to be held at Wayne State University from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, will feature remarks by HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan. Additional presenters include HUD Assistant Secretaries John Trasviña, Raphael Bostic, and Mercedes Marquez, as well as Bryan Samuels, Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth, & Families at the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
The March 9 conference will provide advocates, community leaders, and members of the public an opportunity to engage with the Obama Administration on housing and homelessness issues that impact LGBT Americans, including the youth served by the Ruth Ellis Center. Participants will receive updates from Obama Administration officials, connect with federal government resources and opportunities through workshop sessions, and provide valuable feedback through the “Open Space” process.
“We are honored to join with the White House for this historic conference, taking place in one of the cities most impacted by LGBTQ homelessness,” said Laura Hughes, Executive Director of the Ruth Ellis Center. “Nationally, about 40 percent of the 1.7 million runaway and homeless youth self-identify as LGBTQ. In Detroit alone, up to an estimated 800 homeless LGBT youth are on the streets every day. The Ruth Ellis Center works daily with our city’s and state’s leadership to help improve outcomes for the homeless LGBTQ youth we serve. It sends a powerful message to now have the commitment from the Federal government to discuss these issues.”
The numbers Hughes quotes were courtesy of the
Center for American Progress study in 2010.
On Saturday, Rserven wrote about the tremendous struggles LGBT youths face. Too many find themselves tossed onto the street by their own families. This act is too often, quite literally, a death sentence.
The state of New York is exactly like so many others. Advocates struggle mightily to resist austerity measures which target this vulnerable population (who apparently need to hire better lobbyists to protect their interests). As a bad economy puts more youth at risk, and makes it harder for the young and unskilled to find work, New York state has cumulatively cut 70 percent of funding for Runaway and Homeless Youth Services in the last two years.
I had the occaision last month to attend session on the Ruth Ellis Center at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Creating Change conference. I was very moved at the group's hard work, focused mission and excellent results. Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan also spoke, and could not have possibly been more convincing in the administration's commitment to delivering LGBT equality and fairness.
This is a stand-out example of the administration using their bully pulpit to spotlight a very serious problem, and a group delivering serious solutions. It will also doubtlessly be a huge thrill of acknowledgment for the activists in Detroit who are too often tasked with having to do far too much with far too little.
Bravo!
The White House Office of Communications forwards this release:
White House LGBT Conference on Housing & Homelessness to be Held in Detroit, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan to Attend
Office of Public Engagement Holding LGBT Conferences Around the Country
The White House LGBT Conference on Housing & Homelessness will be held in Detroit, Michigan on Friday, March 9th, and will feature remarks by Secretary for Housing & Urban Development, Shaun Donovan. The conference will be hosted by the White House Office of Public Engagement in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development and the Ruth Ellis Center. Participants will receive important updates from senior administration officials and have the opportunity to learn about Federal government resources and opportunities through workshop sessions.
The White House LGBT Conference on Housing & Homelessness is part of a series of conferences that will be held around the country specifically focused on LGBT Americans. From February to June 2012, OPE will convene these White House LGBT Conferences to provide grassroots leaders, community organizers, advocates, students, and interested citizens an opportunity to hear directly from the Administration on our efforts to ensure health, well-being, security, justice, and equality for LGBT Americans.
The first White House LGBT Conference, focused on Health issues, was held in Philadelphia on Thursday, February 16th. Future Conferences will be held in other locations throughout the country and focus on topics including, but not limited to, Safe Schools & Communities, Seniors, HIV/AIDS Prevention, and Youth & Families.
Additional details, including media access, about the White House LGBT Conference on Housing & Homelessness will be released later.