Nearly half the teens living on the streets of New York City during this holiday season are believed to be LGBTQ youths, many thrown out of their homes because of who they are. That’s where the Ali Forney Center comes in.

Named for a gender non-conforming teen who fled their home at age 13, then was abused and beaten while in the foster care system and ended up living on the streets, where they were murdered, the Center was founded in 2002 as a living legacy to Ali. It’s now the largest organization protecting homeless LGBTQ youth in the country. 

Alex Roque, president and CEO of the Center, joins In Focus to talk about the important work they do there, welcoming more than 2,000 young people every year through their 24-hour drop-in center, providing more than 70,000 meals along with job training and mental health support.

This year, the Center is partnering with New York City on the Unity Project, which is committed to empowering young LGBTQ people through housing, employment and education. He also talks about Homeless 4 the Holidays, a fundraising drive to help keep LGBTQ youth off the streets.

It’s an issue Mario Smith knows all too well. As a gender non-conforming teen, they were forced to leave their home with no real destination. But when Mario found the Ali Forney Center, everything changed. They join In Focus to talk about how the Center has given them a safe space to create a new life in New York.