Our Work
We provide more than housing — we provide a home with stability, support, and comprehensive service to help LGBTQ+ homeless youth get their lives back on track and to prepare them to live independently and thrive.
1. Initial Intake Support
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Medical checkup
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Psychiatric Evaluation
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HIV counseling and testing
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Medicaid Enrollment
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Warm meals
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Hot showers
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Clean clothing
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24-hour access to services
2. Ongoing Support
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Group Therapy
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Mental Health Counseling
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Support Groups
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Workshops
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Continued Medical Care
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Case Management
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Recreational Activities that provide Structure and Focus
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Prevention & Treatment, Adherence Counseling
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Mental Health Groups & Support Counseling
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3. Emergency Housing
Our Emergency Housing Program offers our young people a unique home-like experience compared to other centers in New York City. LGBTQ+ youth stay in cozy apartments in Queens and Brooklyn, complete with nightly home-cooked meals. AFC has six emergency housing sites with a total of 66 beds.
Emergency Housing frequently has a waiting list of 200+ young people. While young people are on the waitlist, they have access to all the continuum of services we offer at the Drop-In Center.
4. Unity Works - Vocational & Educational Placement Assistance
At the Ali Forney Center, we prepare our youths for independence with regular workshops, courses, and individual counseling through our Unity Works program. Instilling accountability through the program, we offer regular TASC (formerly GED) preparatory tutoring and NWRC readiness curriculums. We also offer work readiness programming, life skills training, resume-writing workshops, internships and externships, and recreational groups. Currently, 77% of our transitional housing residents are in school and 99% are employed.
6. Transitional Housing Program (THP)
AFC has 58 transitional housing beds in shared apartments throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. Young people can reside in our more independent Transitional Housing Programs for up to two years while they maintain employment, continue their education, and prepare for living on their own. We create an in-depth two-year case plan to chart their path to independence. We pair each resident with a LIFE Coach, a working professional who guides the young person through transitional housing and, ideally, beyond. The program is designed to instill accountability in residents to prepare them for independence.