New York City has made a significant move in support of its transgender and gender-nonconforming residents by opening a city-funded shelter specifically tailored to their needs. Ace's Place, located in Long Island City, Queens, is managed by the Bronx-based LGBTQ+ nonprofit organization Destination Tomorrow, as reported by Gothamist. The facility has been named in memory of the late mother of Sean Ebony Coleman, founder and CEO of Destination Tomorrow, and aims to accommodate up to 150 individuals.
With an investment of $65 million pledged by the city for the operation of the shelter through 2030, Ace's Place stands as the first city-funded initiative of its kind in the United States. "We’ve watched so many other corporations and foundations and businesses just like completely turn their back on the community, and the city didn’t do it," Coleman toldthe Advocate. The opening of this shelter comes at a time when trans rights have been facing significant hurdles nationwide.
Statistics shared by the National Center for Transgender Equality in a 2022 study reveal that almost one-third of transgender individuals have experienced homelessness at some point. According to a statement obtained by Gothamist, Molly Wasow Park, commissioner of the city’s Department of Social Services, acknowledged the particular challenges this community faces in securing stable housing, due to issues such as familial rejection and employment discrimination.
The importance of Ace's Place is not merely in its ability to provide a roof over heads, but to create a supportive environment. "They're in an environment that completely affirms who they are and how they see themselves, which mentally, gives you the strength to face any challenge you have," Coleman explained in an interview with Gothamist. The support goes beyond affirmation, extending to services such as psychiatric assistance, culinary and GED classes, and job placement and training programs to aid in the stabilization of residents’ lives.
This development also continues New York City's ongoing obligation to provide shelter that aligns with transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals’ gender identity, which already includes at least 30 beds dispersed across the city as a result of past litigation. The shelter is not just about temporary refuge but is aimed at empowering residents, so they "get loved up on and get all of the things that you need to get right back out here and face this world," as Coleman shared with the Advocate.
