The Ali Forney Center (AFC), the largest provider of comprehensive services and housing for homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ+) young people in New York City (NYC) and the nation, will expand treatment programming to increase engagement in
care for racial/ethnic minority youth with substance use disorders (SUD) and/or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders (COD) who are at high risk for HIV or are HIV positive and receiving services/treatment. The population of focus for this proposed project is unhoused LGBTQ+ BIPOC youth (Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color) ages 18-24 with SUD and/or COD, who are at high risk for HIV infection.
Gay and bisexual males are two to three times more likely to use illicit drugs compared to their straight peers, and about one-third of gay males and bisexual males had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year. Substance use increases the risk of individuals developing comorbid or
co-occurring mental disorders (COD). LGBTQ+ individuals are also at a higher risk of contracting diseases such as HIV due to intravenous drug use and risky sexual behaviors.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the most effective treatment for SUDs is one that also addresses CODs. Furthermore, SUD treatment, especially one that also addresses CODs, can help prevent HIV transmission and lead to improvements in viral load. Current
research highlights that in response to the disparities related to these issues for sexual minorities and racial and ethnic minorities, treatment needs to address the unique challenges these individuals face. However, only 7.4% of programs across the county offer specialized services.
In NYC, no existing programs or service providers are providing these critical services specifically to unhoused LGBTQ+ youth.
For the focus population, experiencing homelessness compounds the challenges these individuals are already at an increased risk for while also significantly impacting their access to the affirming, comprehensive care they need. AFC is one of the only providers of housing and
support services specifically for unhoused LGBTQ+ youth in NYC. A lack of affirming facilities where LGBTQ+ youth feel safe leads to individuals who prefer street homelessness and remain at high risk of the associated challenges. The need to provide this care for unhoused LGBTQ+
youth is, quite simply, lifesaving and critical.
The overall purpose of the proposed pilot project is to sustain and expand AFC's array of integrated services and supports to improve behavioral and mental health care and HIV/viral hepatitis (VH) treatment for unhoused LGBTQ+ youth. The proposed pilot project, SUD and HIV/HCV Prevention and Treatment Services for Unhoused LGBTQ+ Youth, is designed to
increase access to and engagement in substance use prevention, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, and HIV/viral hepatitis prevention and treatment services specifically for unhoused LGBTQ+ BIPOC youth ages 18-24 with SUD and/or COD, who are at high risk for HIV
infection. This grant will fund Intensive Case Management (ICM) staff and one existing therapist. It will also allow AFC to expand the program and hire a Peer Hire Counselor to better support those with SUD/COD.
