What they call their work
What they do
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Culturally Specific Support Services 2 activities
- Educational support and tutoringArranges volunteer tutoring for GED and SAT preparation and provides assistance with college applications and financial aid paperwork for LGBTQ+ homeless youth.
- Walk-in case management and social work servicesProvides walk-in case management and social work support to assist LGBTQ+ homeless youth with housing, benefits, identification, health, mental health, education, employment, legal issues, family reunification, education re-enrollment, and tax matters.
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Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
- Creative and recreational programmingOrganizes creative writing and art workshops, recreational activities, college tours, camping, beach trips, barbecues, apple picking, holiday celebrations, and conference attendance to promote self-expression, healing, and community engagement among LGBTQ+ homeless youth.
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HIV/AIDS Prevention and Support Services 1 activity
- HIV/STI testing and sexual health servicesOffers onsite HIV and STI testing, peer support for HIV+ youth, prevention education, and free condoms and lubricant through a partnership with Project Stay, along with referrals for comprehensive health services.
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Self-Sufficiency Empowerment Workshops 1 activity
- Life skills and wellness training groupsConducts weekly life skills training groups covering topics such as HIV prevention, nutrition, conflict resolution, anger management, and STI prevention to support the long-term well-being of LGBTQ+ homeless youth.
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Food Distribution and Hunger Relief 1 activity
- Volunteer engagement in program deliveryEngages volunteers in weekly meal preparation, client group facilitation, fundraising support, and other direct service activities.
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Community Event-Based Giving Programs 1 activity
- Weekly community dinners and basic needs distributionHosts weekly Sunday community dinners from 4–7:30 p.m. providing nutritious homemade meals, clothing, hygiene supplies, harm reduction supplies, OMNY cards, and referrals for shelter and health care to LGBTQ+ homeless youth.
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Who runs it
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katherine Barnhart | Executive Director | 40 | $77K |
- Amy Raspatello — Secretary
- Andy Humm — President
- Grant Woolfolk — Board Director
- Jeffry Mummert — Treasurer
- Jenna Tine — Board Director
- Michaela Murphy — Board Director
Who they work with
- Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health Government — Institutional home of HHPC, which co-administers Project STAY in partnership with New Alternatives.
- Ernst Partner — Photographer who documented the organization's community, capturing the courage, creativity, and hope of LGBTQ+ youth.
- Harlem Health Promotion Center (HHPC) Partner — Co-administers Project STAY with New York Presbyterian Hospital and partners with New Alternatives on health service delivery.
- Metro Baptist Church Partner — Receives donated hygiene supplies at Metro Baptist Church, located at 410 West 40th Street, during Sunday hours.
- New York Presbyterian Hospital Ambulatory Care Network Corporation Partner — Administers Project STAY, which partners with New Alternatives to provide health services.
- Out My Closet Partner — Partners with Out My Closet to provide clothing to clients, directing all clothing donations to them due to space constraints.
- Project STAY Partner — Partnership for providing onsite STI testing and referrals for comprehensive health services.
- Project Stay Partner — Partners with New Alternatives to provide HIV and STI testing during Sunday evening programs.
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-as-Family Modelmethodology: community-as-familyBy creating an inclusive, family-like community that affirms all identities and expressions, we build psychological safety and belonging because emotional connection and peer support are foundational to healing and resilience among LGBTQ+ homeless youth.
- Harm Reduction and Empowerment Modelmethodology: harm_reductionBy meeting LGBTQ+ homeless youth where they are—without judgment or prerequisites—and providing long-term support grounded in safety and dignity, we foster survival, stability, and personal growth because sustained engagement and self-efficacy are prerequisites for lasting change.
- Holistic Youth Development and Long-Term Supportmethodology: holistic-youth-developmentBy offering sustained, wraparound services—including case management, education, life skills, and opportunities for self-expression—we support the transition out of homelessness because youth thrive when development is addressed across multiple interconnected domains over time.
- No-Barrier Access to Servicesmethodology: no_barriers-accessBy eliminating structural hurdles such as ID requirements, referrals, or paperwork, we increase access and utilization among LGBTQ+ homeless youth because removing systemic barriers reduces distrust and increases engagement for those most marginalized.