Homeless, Young, and HIV Positive? Help is on the Way

The Ali Forney Center and Treatment Action Group have partnered up to address and find a solution for the rising number of homeless LGBT youth with HIV.

Longtime activists and philanthropists Frank Selvaggi and Bill Shea will donate $50,000 to each organization to support a housing development fund at the Ali Forney Center and a new policy coordinator staff position at Treatment Action Group.

“One of the most challenging tasks is providing support for youth clients that have tested positive for the HIV virus,” says Carl Siciliano, the executive director of the Ali Forney Center.

In 2012, at least 500,000 youths experienced homelessness, but there’s only enough capacity to provide care to one in every 10.  Due to a lack of shelter, many homeless youth turn to sex work in order to survive.

The Ali Forney Center was founded in 2002 to provide homeless LGBT youth in New York City a safe place where they can begin to put their lives back together. Treatment Action Group is an independent AIDS research and policy think tank whose mission inlcudes "fighting for better treatment, a vaccine, and a cure for AIDS.”