“We are extremely proud to make this groundbreaking announcement that strongly reflects our values and our ongoing commitment to enhancing the safety net for transgender individuals in New York, especially during a time when their rights are frequently under threat,” stated Molly Wasow Park, the commissioner of the Department of Social Services, in a statement. “Ace’s Place will provide Transgender New Yorkers with a secure environment to heal and stabilize, surrounded by trauma-informed care and support from staff who are dedicated to their growth and well-being.”

Sean Ebony Coleman, the founder and CEO of Destination Tomorrow, highlighted that Ace’s Place represents a “hard-won declaration that our Transgender and gender nonconforming community members will no longer be relegated to the margins.”

“Ace’s Place is a community-driven answer to systemic neglect, and it’s only the beginning,” Coleman said in a statement.

Trans individuals disproportionately face homelessness, partly due to higher levels of employment discrimination. According to the 2022 U.S. Trans Survey, the most comprehensive survey of trans people in the nation with over 90,000 participants, 30% of respondents had experienced homelessness at some time in their lives. Eleven percent of those who had ever held a job reported being terminated, compelled to leave, dismissed, or laid off due to their gender identity or expression. More than a third (34%) of those surveyed were living in poverty.

Ace’s Place is among the very few organizations in New York City offering housing for adults within the LGBTQ community. Almost all of the city’s shelters for LGBTQ individuals cater to those under the age of 25.