Garden State Equality, Greenwald, and Lampitt Launch Winter Clothing Drive to Support Homeless Shelter for LGBTQ Youth

Garden State Equality outlines legislative solutions to combat LGBTQ youth homelessness

Donations will support The RAIN Foundation, New Jersey’s only homeless shelter serving LGBTQ youth

Garden State Equality is teaming up with The RAIN Foundation, and the 6th Legislative District Office of Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald and Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt to launch its first-ever Winter Clothing Drive to support LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness.

Across the nation and in New Jersey, LGBTQ youth disproportionately experience homelessness. In fact, over 40% of all youth experiencing homelessness identify as LGBTQ, and tragically, family rejection is the most commonly cited reason. In spite of this great need, New Jersey has only a single homeless shelter serving LGBTQ youth, The RAIN Foundation, based in East Orange.

“It’s a tragedy that the LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness in New Jersey are so deeply underserved,” said Christian Fuscarino, executive director of Garden State Equality. “We’re working on several legislative solutions to support these kids, but the most important and immediate thing each of us can do is support the RAIN Foundation and the youth it serves with clothing and supplies to improve their lives.”

“LGBT young people don’t deserve to be without a home because they walk in their truth and choose to stand up for their right to exist. No one deserves to be homeless, especially because of their sexuality,” said Elaine Helms, Executive Director of The RAIN Foundation.

“LGBTQ youth are nearly twice as likely as their peers to experience homelessness, leaving them vulnerable not only to dangerous weather conditions but to abuse and exploration,” said Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-Camden, Burlington). “We are so grateful to be collaborating with Garden State Equality, to help these young people overcome homelessness and deliver much needed winter clothes to these kids. Our office will be a drop off site for essential items like winter coats, bedding, and pillows and we encourage everyone to stop by and donate.”

“LGBTQ youth face adversity in many ways because of their sexuality or gender identity, and sadly too many of these young people are forced into homelessness just for being their true selves,” said Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Camden, Burlington). “We are happy to partner with Garden State Equality to collect supplies that will ensure these young people have what they need to make it through the winter. We invite every resident in our district to visit our office and donate in support of this cause.”

Securing statewide funding to support LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness is a major pillar of Garden State Equality’s legislative agenda moving into 2020. New Jersey’s Transgender Equality Task Force (TETF) — formed following legislation Garden State Equality passed in 2018 — released its final report last month, calling on state government to support existing homeless shelters, provide LGBTQ cultural competency trainings to shelter staff, and invest further funding to support transgender and LGBTQ New Jersey youth experiencing homelessness.

Additionally, the TETF outlined sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data collection among state departments as a top-line policy recommendation. While the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness reports that 10,391 public students experienced homelessness as of January 2018, New Jersey lacks concrete SOGI data to identify areas of greatest need for LGBTQ youth.

Garden State Equality will be introducing legislation in the next legislative session to support SOGI data collection across state agencies to support targeted efforts to combat youth homelessness among other significant needs. In 2018, Garden State Equality previously passed legislation for SOGI data collection in New Jersey public higher education.

Garden State Equality’s Winter Clothing Drive will be actively collecting donations until January 31, 2020 at drop-off locations listed below, as well as at its annual Home for the Holidays Party on December 20. However, donations to support The RAIN Foundation are encouraged year-round.

REQUESTED ITEMS

• Winter Coats (Sizes: M, L, XL, 2XL)
• Winter Boots (Sizes: 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5)
• Bedding Comforters, Deep Twin Sheet Sets
• Pillows
• Deep Twin Bed Bug Mattress Covers
• Towels & Wash Cloths
• Water Purifier
• Laundry Detergent
• Household Cleaners
• Tool Set
• Toiletries
• Socks, gloves, hand warmers
• Feminine Hygiene Products
• Undergarments

CENTRAL JERSEY DROP-OFF

Garden State Equality

1408 Main Street

Asbury Park, NJ 07102

(973) 509-5428

Monday to Friday

9am – 5pm

Please call in advance

SOUTH JERSEY DROP-OFF

Legislative Office of Majority Leader Greenwald & Assemblywoman Lampitt

1101 Laurel Oak Road, Suite 150

Voorhees, NJ 08043

(856) 435-1247

Monday to Friday

9am – 5pm

NORTH JERSEY DROP-OFF

The RAIN Foundation

168 Park Street

East Orange, NJ 07017

(973) 675-6780

Monday to Friday

9am – 5pm

Please call in advance and ask for Mrs. Shepard or Mrs. Naykhea Watkins