community MARYAH AND
by bill biss
THE CENTER’S YOUTH HOUSING PROJECT 10 YEARS OF HOUSING LGBT HOMELESS YOUTH
Acknowledging your sexuality for any LGBT teenager can be a com- plicated and difficult situation for some. If you add religious beliefs, family structure or lack of it; even unmitigated and unbiased hatred to the equation… the situation of hopelessness leads many a teenager to run away from home and try to determine the obstacles of a life on the streets. In San Diego, The LGBT Community Center’s Youth Housing Project with a strong assist from the Metro Area Real Estate Professionals for Young Adult Housing (MARYAH) has made a valued difference in providing assisted living quarters to those LGBT youth in need. As we head into summer 2016, MARYAH and The San Diego Center will continue these efforts as they present “Summer Solstice” at the Hotel Del Coronado. This event honors a decade of hope, home and heart to continue to raise much needed funding for San Diego’s LGBT homeless youth. Director of Events for The San Diego Center, Ian Johnson spoke withThe Rage Monthly to share a bit on their efforts, history and the dedication to this cause. Johnson’s connection to the project goes back a few years.“MARYAH actually started fundraising a year prior to the Sunburst [the youth housing structure] opening, which is amazing. They go non-stop and they do three events a year. I came on and started working with them and I’ve always been involved with the event for the past five years. But, working closely with MARYAH has been a couple of years.” Ian shares a deep respect for the Youth Housing Project and the dedication of
MARYAH’s efforts over the years. “The Youth Housing Project has changed lives. It’s basically giving these youth a second opportunity to kind of build their lives. Many of them are kicked out of their homes by their families because they identify as LGBTQ. On MARYAH, there is a board of around
The Youth Housing Project has changed lives. It’s basically giving these youth a second opportunity to kind of build their lives. Many
of them are kicked out of their homes by their families because they identify as LGBTQ.”
twenty people who meet monthly and as I said, they do three events a year. They are passionate about helping the housing project. They are an amazing group of individuals who tap into their resources. They bring in not only LGBT real estate professionals but it’s going to an even broader spectrum.” The Sunburst complex located downtown has 23 units and has been avail-
able for ten years as a crucial part of the Youth Housing Project. “So far, it’s the only one we have,” Johnson adds. “The average age of the occupants is 18 to 24-years-old. We also try and provide employment. Many of them are enrolled in school at City College, some of them are doing volunteer work. If you think about it… many of them were kicked out of their homes as a young adult and it’s like, ‘What do I do!?’ They are in survival mode. It’s supportive housing. They pay a small rent and it gets them into the role of being an adult.” Every year, MARYAH has topped what they have raised the year prior. Johnson elaborates, “This is an organization of real estate professionals that came together ten years ago and were doing these smaller events and it’s just grown. I think that’s a huge accomplishment. This year, we’re excited because “Summer Solstice” is at the Hotel Del. The event will be held outdoors at ground level with a view of the beach and will be beautiful at sunset. We have live entertainment provided by Sean Aguirre, who is actually on the MARYAH board, DJ Manny will be spinning, plus a full-scale bar and hors d’oeuvres and a 50/50 raffle with all kinds of different prizes.” Needless to say, the real prize with a ticket admission of $40 is helping to continue the tradition of support for The San Diego LGBT Center’s Youth Housing Project and the shining light of MARYAH for helping to erase the reality of LGBT homeless youth.
Summer Solstice at the Hotel Del Coronado will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. onThursday, June 23. For tickets and any additional information, please go
toevents.thecentersd.org orfacebook.com/maryahsandiego.
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RAGE monthly | JUNE 2016
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