Cyndi Lauper's been relatively quiet these days (barring the occasional rent dispute), but it looks like she's been using that downtime to devote herself to a good cause: helping the city's homeless LGBT youth. Lauper is putting the finishing touches on the appropriately-named True Colors Residence, the first permanent, supportive housing facility for LGBT youth in New York State, set to open on West 154th St near Frederick Douglass Blvd on Sept 1.
As Lauper explains in a message posted on the True Colors site,
"In New York City, a very disproportionate number (up to 40%), of homeless youth identify as LGBT. Even more disturbing are reports that these young people often face discrimination and at times physical assault in some of the very places they have to for help. This is shocking and inexcusable!"
Lauper and her manager have been working with the West End Intergenerational Residence to create a program with "social and educational support services" for residents, and they'll work with the youth to help them find jobs. Residents will pay rent for their studio apartments based off their income. True Colors is aimed at homeless LGBT youth aged 18-24, though executive director Colleen Jackson said that "Nobody gets kicked out when they turn 25. We believe that people will determine their own readiness to leave and go into other housing."
According to a report by the city's Commission for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Runaway and Homeless Youth, between 20 and 40 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBT, so True Colors looks poised to provide some serious good for the kids who need it most.
