MEDIA ADVISORY

November 17, 2016

Contact: Lauren Gray (lgray@dhs.nyc.gov, 917-790-3890)

MEDIA ADVISORY: NYC HOMELESS SERVICES AND COUNCIL MEMBER RITCHIE TORRES TO ANNOUNCE NEW PLANS TO ADDRESS LGBTQ HOMELESSNESS

NEW YORK—On Friday, Council Member Ritchie Torres will make a historic announcement regarding his partnership with the City to address homelessness among LGBTQ young adults (ages 21-30), particularly LGBTQ people of color, at a breakfast that will bring together advocates and community leaders on this issue. Council Member Torres, the first openly gay candidate to be elected to legislative office in the Bronx and the youngest member of City Council, has formed a close partnership with the Department of Homeless Services and has emerged as a leader on taking a stand on behalf of homeless New Yorkers in the Bronx. Some studies estimate that as many as 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ.

WHAT: HOMELESSNESS AMONG LGBTQ PERSONS OF COLOR AWARENESS BREAKFAST, hosted by the NYC Department of Homeless Services and Department of Youth & Community Development

WHEN: Friday, November 18 from 9:00-11:00 a.m.

WHERE: Fordham University’s Roe Hill campus in the Bronx, McGinley Center, 2nd floor ballroom

WHO: Speakers will include:

• Department of Social Services Chief Special Services Officer Dan Tietz
• Council Member Ritchie Torres
• Ali Forney Center Executive Director Carl Sicliano
• Hetrick-Martin Institute Director of Advocacy & Capacity Building Lillian Rivera
• Depressed Black Gay Men President Antoine Craigwell
• Caribbean Equality Project Founder & Executive Director Mohammad Amin
• Department of Social Services Director of LGBTQI Affairs Elana Redfield

RSVP: Members of the media should contact Lauren Gray (lgray@dhs.nyc.gov / o: 929-221-5249 c: 917-790-3890).

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