UPPER WEST SIDE CHURCH'S LGBTQ YOUTH SHELTER

Trinity Lutheran Church of Manhattan on West 100th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues has renovated its basement to better house the Trinity Place Shelter, a shelter dedicated to LGBTQ+ youth. We seek to raise $10,000 for folding chairs and tables, dollies to carry these chairs and tables and other furniture and equipment to fully furnish this newly renovated basement space. The shelter uses the basement overnight, leaving the space available for community functions during the day. Because they are portable and can be easily stored, the chairs and tables will allow the basement to be used by the church and the community for various functions, some of which may provide much-needed revenue through rentals. Please see the plan for the portable furniture HERE.

The $10,000 will be used to purchase and ship qty (120) heavy-duty folding chairs (480lb capacity with cushioned seats and back); qty (10) 30”x72” rectangular tables; qty (10) 60” circular tables and three dollies designed to transport and store these chairs and tables compactly.

With these chairs and tables, the church basement will accommodate meetings, lectures and performances for up to 120 people, including annual coop meetings for buildings in the neighborhood. With the tables, the church basement will accommodate dinners and parties for up to 70 people, including Trinity Lutheran’s annual Thanksgiving Day dinner for the local community.

Trinity Place Shelter is a 10-bed transitional shelter for LGBTQ youth and young adults. While housed in the basement of Trinity Lutheran Church on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, TPS is a small, secular organization staffed by licensed social workers. TPS opened in June 2008 to serve LGBTQ youth, especially youth of color, who often face hostile discrimination when staying in standard shelter programs.