Bevan Dufty
Bevan Dufty, former District 8 Supervisor, has a new job as point man on homelessness and housing here in the City for Mayor Ed Lee. One of his goals is to better serve the needs of the City's LGBTQ homeless population. To that end he's holding the Nations first ever summit of homeless services specifically targeting the estimated 29% of the City's homeless population believed to identify as LGBTQ at The Center (1800 Market St) on October 7th.
The event dubbed simply, LGBTQ Connect, will focus on hooking up the in-need homeless San Francisco citizen with the wide variety of care available such as medical, dental, employment, and housing services in a massive and comprehensive one-day, walk-in convention that's entirely geared toward LGBTQ communities and their unique needs.
Similar service summits have occurred since first introduced in 2004 by the City focusing on specific targeted communities like Veterans, but this one is the first designed to zero in on the LGBTQ's.
This LGBTQ Connect follows on the heels of a City report issued in June where figures revealed that though only 15% of San Francisco's total population is LGBTQ they make up nearly one third of all homeless currently living on SF streets. This large concentration is comprised of all age groups --youth, middle age, and seniors-- and representing every culture and demographic. These alarming factors helped push City officials to take the extra step and convene the service summit.
The Project Homeless Connect model the City invented in 2004 --much like its historic predecessor, the 1985 HIV Model of Care, developed during the first decade of the AIDS pandemic-- has been copied by hundreds of communities nationwide to meet the needs of their own homeless population. The hope here is that once again the City will lead the way and show others across the country how best to serve the homeless LGBTQ population in their own backyards more compassionately and effectively.
LGBTQ Connect will be held Oct. 7th at the LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Though designed for the LGBTQ community no one will be turned away who shows up and is in need.
The Project Homeless Connect model the City invented in 2004 --much like its historic predecessor, the 1985 HIV Model of Care, developed during the first decade of the AIDS pandemic-- has been copied by hundreds of communities nationwide to meet the needs of their own homeless population. The hope here is that once again the City will lead the way and show others across the country how best to serve the homeless LGBTQ population in their own backyards more compassionately and effectively.
LGBTQ Connect will be held Oct. 7th at the LGBT Community Center, 1800 Market Street, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Though designed for the LGBTQ community no one will be turned away who shows up and is in need.
