 "A Face, a Space and a Place" for the LGBT Community In York Region
Family Services York Region
16Dec2009 11:26
EST |
| Media Release - December 16th, 2009
"A Face, a Space and a Place" for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender" (LGBT) Community in York Region.
Newmarket - This past month, the Ontario Trillium Foundation granted Family Services York Region (FSYR) $300,000 over four years to develop and implement an LGBT Service Hub in the region. On Wednesday afternoon, Julia Munro, MPP for York-Simcoe met with representatives from the FSYR and with John Ellis Executive Director of Family Services Ontario to formally congratulate the organization on receiving their grant.
"The Ontario Trillium Foundation grant will help meet an important need in York Region," said MPP Munro. "This funding will help enhance the health and safety of members of the local LGBT community."
The goal of this project is inclusion. The grant from the Foundation will be used to help FSYR develop strong business and marketing plan strategies, will enable the organization to pay the salary for two staff positions (part-time) and help with things like website maintenance and counselling and software costs. This project also includes an Information Referral and Support Line, supported by trained volunteers. Staff will be trained in online therapy, allowing for a comfortable, safe way for members of the LGBT community, in particular youth, to access the service.
"Our mission and plan through this funding is to make York Region a safer place for the LGBT community," said FSYR Executive Director, Elisha Laker. "Building on the foundation work done by the LGBT Advisory Committee over the past four years, this new funding will be used to create "a space, a face and a place for the LGBT Community."
FSYR with its partner agencies will continue to provide cultural competency training and develop service capacity through a Community Coordinating Table. The LGBT Advisory committee has built a strong core of resourceful, dedicated community partners, committed to strengthening and developing services. They will assist in identifying and coordinating information and resources, marketing through their own networks and recruiting volunteers of all ages. Focus groups and panels will be created for input into the project.
This project is about inclusion and access in York Region, where the LGBT community is not on the outside looking in.
- Research studies consistently identifY LGBT Youth as higher risk for substance abuse, mental health issues, suicide ideation and suicide
- 22 per cent of homosexuals and bisexuals reported that they had un-met health care needs in 2003, nearly twice the proportion of heterosexuals
- LGBT youth are disproportionately represented among homeless youth; about 40 per cent of homeless youth in Toronto are LGBT; a clear path to poverty
- 30 per cent of LGBT youth consistently bullied at school
- Family violence reported at 51 per cent for LGBT youth
The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario. For 25 years, it has supported the growth and vitality of communities across the province. OTF continues to strengthen the capacity of the volunteer sector through investments in community-based initiatives. For more information, please visit www.trilliumfoundation.org.
For more information, please contact:
Elisha Laker, MSW, RSW, Executive Director Family Services York Region
1091 Gorham Street, Unit 202
Newmarket, ON, L3Y 8X7
Email: elaker@fsyr.ca
Tel: 905 895 2371 Ext. 223
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