New Policy For Transgender Homeless

[Caleigh]

February 6, 2006


After years of negotiations with QEJ and other organizations, on
February 3rd, the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS)
formally announced a new policy that will allow homeless transgender
individuals to determine their placement in the city’s homeless shelter
system.

The new policy will allow transgender homeless individuals to specify
whether they prefer to be housed in women’s or men’s shelters.
Previously, they were mandated into facilities based on their biological
sex. In accordance with DHS’s new commitment to “a policy of respect
for all shelter clients”, shelter staff will be obligated to address
transgender individuals with their preferred “names, titles, pronouns,
and other terms appropriate to their gender identity.” The new policy
will begin as a pilot program at six homeless shelters across the city.

“No one, regardless of whether they are homeless, should be denied their
basic dignity, their gender, least of all within our city’s shelters,”
said Queers for Economic Justice (QEJ) shelter organizer Jay Toole.
“With the inauguration of DHS’s ground-breaking new policy, we move one
step closer to ensuring the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers
regardless of class or gender identity.”

In the city’s shelters, transgender individuals are at high risk of
verbal, physical, and sexual harassment and abuse, including rape.
Transgender women in particular report being threatened with such
extreme violence in men’s facilities that many opt not to utilize the
shelter system at all, feeling safer instead remaining on the streets.

This policy change represents the culmination of a long negotiation
between DHS and LGBT community organizations. Toole began coordinating
meetings more than three years ago between DHS, QEJ, the Sylvia Rivera
Law Project, and the Gender Identity Project of the LGBT Community
Center. The organizations worked to educate DHS about the experiences
of transgender and gender nonconforming people in the shelter system, as
well as to urge DHS to adopt a written policy allowing such individuals
to determine their own placement within the system. QEJ and fellow
advocates are now working to ensure that the new regulations mandate
transgender-sensitivity training for shelter staff and that the trainers
themselves be either transgender or advocates from transgender
communities.

“The respect and protection of transgender shelter residents will only
happen if shelter staff receive the training they need,” said Toole.
“DHS must now enlist transgender communities and advocacy organizations
in this training to ensure that shelters truly become safe, welcoming
and respectful of homeless transgender people.”

This policy, which was just made available to the public, represents the
culmination of a long negotiation process between QEJ and DHS and a
critical provision that brings us one step closer to ensuring the safety
of all shelter residents regardless of our sexual or gender identities.
The new policy will begin, as a pilot program, at six homeless shelters
across the City.

QEJ expresses its gratitude to the Gender Identity Project and Sylvia
Rivera Law Project for their partnership on this issue, and also to the
many organizations which have helped our three organizations make this
new policy a reality, especially , but also including: Lambda Legal
Defense and Education Fund, the New York County Lawyers' Association
Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Issues, the
Coalition for the Homeless (CFTH), and the New York Transgender Rights
Organization (NYTRO), as well as the many members of the Queer Economic
Justice Network, coordinated by QEJ, which have provided invaluable
support and assistance.

[InvisibleTS]

Good to hear Thanks for sharing as always

[Ecstatic]

Good to see some enlightened perspective!

[Vicki Richter]

So what does that say about a TG who still wishes to be housed with the boyz?

[brickcitybrother]

It is a start... but does nothing to address the root cause of homelessness or of the abject proverty in this country.

[Felicia Katt]

It is a start... but does nothing to address the root cause of homelessness or of the abject proverty in this country.

are you saying the tax cuts aren't enough??? LOL

FK

[Vicki Richter]

It is a start... but does nothing to address the root cause of homelessness or of the abject proverty in this country.

You are right. Clinton totally solved that problem in his 8 years.

[Felicia Katt]

He didn't solve it, but he sure did a lot to improve it
The poverty rate fell from 15.1 percent in 1993 to 12.7 percent in 1998. That's the lowest poverty rate since 1979 and the largest five-year drop in poverty in nearly 30 years (1965-1970).

The African-American poverty rate dropped from 33.1 percent in 1993 to 26.1 percent in 1998 -- the lowest level ever recorded and the largest five-year drop in African-American poverty in more than a quarter century (1967-1972).

The poverty rate for Hispanics fell to the lowest level since 1979, and dropped to 25.6 percent in 1998.

African-American unemployment fell from 14.2 percent in 1992 to 7.3 percent in March 2000 -- the lowest rate on record.

The unemployment rate for Hispanics fell from 11.6 percent in 1992 to 6.3 percent in March 2000 -- and in the last year has been at the lowest rate on record.

For women the unemployment rate was 4.3 percent in March 2000, nearly the lowest since 1953 [when few women sought employment outside the home].

In 1999, the homeownership rate was 66.8 percent -- the highest ever recorded. Minority homeownership rates were also the highest ever recorded.

Under President Clinton and Vice President Gore, child poverty declined from 22.7 percent in 1993 to 18.9 percent in 1998 -- the biggest five-year drop in nearly 30 years.

The poverty rate for African-American children fell from 46.1 percent in 1993 to 36.7 percent in 1998 -- the lowest level in 20 years and the biggest five-year drop on record.

The rate also fell for Hispanic children, from 36.8 percent to 34.4 percent - and is now 6.5 percentage points lower than it was in 1993.
http://www.mikehersh.com/President_C...at_Years.shtml

Reagan and Bush had 12 years. Clinton had only 8. Instead of 4 years, Gore got 4 votes in the Supreme Court.

Under the guy who got 5 votes...

The number of Americans living in poverty or lacking health insurance rose for 4 straight years in 2004, while household incomes stagnated and earnings fell, according to the Census Bureau
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2004Aug26.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...083001727.html

FK

[Vicki Richter]

I'll concede defeat here if you can clearly articulate what programs Clinton employed to make such sweeping changes... and what changes the present administration did to reverse the improvements. You will also comprehend in your summary that Clinton handed off the economy in a bag of shit recession which lead to a huge stock market collapse and a massive terrorist attack caused partially by a lacksadasial approach to terrorism by the administration. There was nothing Bush could do to avoid the gears that had already been set into motion... What do you think that did to companies and their bottom lines? Ahhh global work forces, etc. Do you try to restrict the already struggling US auto industry by placing tarrifs on moving jobs off-shore? The airline industry was also hugely affected...

You might be able to blame the high fuel prices on him as well as the extremely expensive war, but historically war is the best way out of a recession.

So IMHO you are talking apples and oranges. As some might argue, due to "Reagonomics" Clinton inherited the easiest 8 years in office any President could hope for. I'm not saying that is fact, but of course I enjoy playing the devil's advocate.

V

[Felicia Katt]

The myth of the Clinton recession was already raised and thoroughly debunked on here
http://www.hungangels.com/board/view...ecession#69751
As far as specific programs:
15 million working families enjoyed tax relief under President Clinton's expanded Earned Income Tax Credit. Thanks to Clinton, the EITC lifted 4.3 million people out of poverty in 1998 alone.
1.5 million children benefited when Clinton more than doubled federal funding for child care.
Clinton forced the minimum wage up from $4.25 to $5.15 per hour and demanded an increase to $6.15.
Clinton's Workforce Investment Act reformed the nation's employment and training system.
Clinton's policies helped to create 22 million net jobs in eight years. During six years under two different Bushes the economy failed to create even one net private sector job. Not even one!
http://www.mikehersh.com/President_C...at_Years.shtml

Other specifics of Clinton's successes:
Signed the Economic Package, August 10, 1993.
Passed the largest deficit-cutting plan in history -- saving more than $1 trillion over seven years. That massive deficit was Reagans only real legacy
Cut federal spending by $255 billion over 5 years.
Made new tax cuts available to over 90% of small businesses.
Lowest combined rate of unemployment and inflation since 1968.
1994 real GDP growth was the highest in a decade.
Proposed a plan to balance the budget while protecting critical investments in education
http://www.perkel.com/politics/clinton/accomp.htm

Bush's record compared to every presidency since Nixon:
Bush's term saw the absolute worst job creation, both in the private-sector and in the economy as a whole.
Bush's term has yielded the absolute worst growth in employee compensation.
Bush.'s term has produced gains in after-tax income that, while not the absolute worst, are the third worst of the last 9 presidential terms. This despite what Bush has billed as "the largest tax cuts in history."
Bush's term has also produced the fastest growth in discretionary government spending of all 9 presidential terms.
http://angrybear.blogspot.com/2004/1...n-context.html

Bush focused on his tax cuts, gving the richest even more. He focused on right wing and right to life issues. His very first act in office was an executive order withholding federal funds from international organizations that engage in abortion-related activities. Energy, Medical, Pharmaceutical industries all enjoyed record profits, at the expense of consumers, under Bush's policies.

I will agree that there was a lackadaisacal approach to terrorism by the administration. The Bush Administration. The month before 9-11 (after geting a briefing which suggested there would be attacks on the US using airliners, Bush was on vacation at his ranch, pondering stem cells. Richard Clark, a holdover from Clinton's administration who briefed the Presidents people cancelled all his staff's vacations that same month.
http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101020812/story.html

Bush has had 5 years, its time for him to accept some responsiblity. Clinton has been out of office for 5 years, its time for him to be able to reject some.

FK