PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Alejandro Arias, Multilingual Case Manager at Ali Forney Center
3:46:09
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151 sec
Alejandro Arias, a multilingual case manager at the Ali Forney Center, testifies about the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ immigrant youth in New York City, particularly those who are undocumented. He highlights the urgent need for safe shelter, specialized services, and support for this vulnerable population.
- There has been a 12% increase in youth with citizenship issues from 2021-2023, with no extra financial support from NYC.
- LGBTQ+ youth, especially those over 21 and male-identified, face serious obstacles in finding safe shelter and often experience harassment, violence, and theft in city shelters.
- The lack of access to education, legal support, and employment compounds the challenges faced by undocumented LGBTQ+ youth.
- Arias supports Resolution 576 and calls for immediate action to ensure that vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth are not left behind in their basic human rights.
Alejandro Arias
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Thank you very much.
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Thank you to chair of Stevens and chair of your list for giving me immigrant youth a voice today.
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My name is Alejandro Arias, pronouncing him, and I am a multilingual case manager at the Alephonia Center.
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Between 2021 2023, we have had a 12% increase in youth with our citizenship with no extra financial support from NYC.
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Accounting for LGBTQ plus youth, particularly undocumented individuals, has reached a crisis point in New York City's shelter system.
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LGBTQ plus individuals, especially those over the age of twenty one and male identified.
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Phase serious obstacles in finding safe shelter, and other organizations are at capacity.
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Force them to turn away individuals or take those without asylum case numbers.
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For LGBTQ plus youth, especially trans youth, The experience in city shelters often includes harassment, violence, and theft.
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They are highly youth we serve at the California center are denied access to DHS.
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Even though Marshall's house has available beds, They are sent to herbs, but do not feel safe with adults so that they leave and return to stay a drop in centers where they cannot sleep.
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How can anyone succeed with this level of instability and fear?
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Youth need specialized services to thrive NYC is aware of this.
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Yet, youth were left out of the city's plan once again.
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The youth are unable to receive section 8 or city Firms.
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The situation is compound by the lack of access to education, legal support, and employment.
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Undocumented LGBTQ plus individuals often rely on informal or under the table jobs to survive.
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But even these options are increasingly difficult to secure.
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The inability to work legally creates increased vulnerability for many in the community survival means engaging in sex work or participating in street economies.
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Discrimination, prejudice, and violence followed them both on the streets and in their workplaces, making survival even harder to maintain.
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We support resolution of 576 and as the state legislature to introduce ambassador workforce development program for new arrivals.
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These challenges are not insurmountable, but they require more your immediate action to ensure that vulnerable LGBTQ plus youth are now left behind for basic human rights.
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Safe, inclusive spaces are crucial for the well-being and survival of this community.
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These spaces make NY better.
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We can't wait.
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We need resources now.
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Thank you for your time and your consideration.