NEW YORK: City Grants $3.3M To Ali Forney Center For Bea Arthur Residence

Some of may recall that Bea Arthur generously left $300,000 to the Ali Forney Center, which the LGBT youth advocates are using to as seed money to create a shelter in her name. Today we have fantastic news on that topic:

The Ali Forney Center, in partnership with the Cooper Square Committee announced today that the City Council has designated $3 million in funding to be combined with an additional$300K designated by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer to help renovate222 East 13th Street in Manhattan's East Village neighborhood. The future Bea Arthur Residence for Homeless LGBT Youth will be an approximately 18-bedresidential supportive housing facility for homeless LGBT youth, to be named in honor of the late actress, Bea Arthur who was an advocate and supporter of the Ali Forney Center and its mission. The local Community Board #3 unanimously recommended that the site be transferred to the Ali Forney Center and Cooper Square Committee for this use.

Ali Forney head Carl Siciliano reacted: "Homeless LGBT youth, most of whom have been cast outof their homes, have faced the worst kind of cruelty and rejection. I am overwhelmed with gratitude that they now being shown such kindness by this community and its leaders."