HEALTH/ COMMUNITY
What’s Closed, What’s Still Available in Queer Services
Coronavirus crisis halts some services; others carrying on, even if remotely
BY MATT TRACY
The coronavirus crisis
has brought much of
society to a screeching
halt, but many organizations
will continue to provide the
essential services that are necessary
for LGBTQ communities in
New York City and the surrounding
region.
Below is a list as of March 20 —
with details subject to change — of
the state of health and social services
for many queer folks across
Greater New York. The services
range from health and wellness to
food distribution and programs.
Some organizations are providing
services on a limited basis, others
are offering remote services, and
certain ones are shutting down
operations indefi nitely
Ali Forney Center: Open, but
outside groups and volunteers will
not be permitted to visit.
aliforneycenter.org/
Apicha Community Health
Center:No COVID-19 testing is
available and walk-ins are not accepted
at this time. Those who wish
to make an appointment should
call 212-334-6029; if nobody picks
up, leave a message and your call
will be returned by the end of the
day.
apicha.org
Anti-Violence Project:Offi ces
closed effective March 16 through
at least April 20, but 24/ 7 English/
Spanish hotline at 12-714-1141) remains
up and running to provide
counseling, safety planning, and
help fi nding medical care.
avp.org
BOOM Health: All services and
locations were open as of March
16. It is not clear whether that remains
the case. Phone calls seeking
clarifi cation on the BOOM
Health’s status were not returned
on March 20.
boomhealth.org/
Brooklyn Community Pride
Center:Closed indefi nitely effective
March 14. A reception line will
be answered by remote staff seven
days a week between noon and
5pm for those seeking referrals or
The Hetrick-Martin Institute on March 20, continuing to distribute food to at-risk LGBTQ youth.
other information.
lgbtbrooklyn.org
Callen-Lorde Community
Health Center: Callen-Lorde is reducing
non-essential procedures,
meetings, and groups; increasing
the amount of nurses and providers
speaking with patients by
phone; and providing limited inperson
visits. Folks are asked to
call fi rst.
Services have been centralized
to the 356 West 18th Street location
from Monday to Friday between
9 a.m. and 5 p.m. The schedule
for visits for those with urgent
symptoms or in-person care will
be Monday through Friday from 9
a.m. to 3 p.m., but patients will be
screened by phone.
Those scheduled for routine appointments
will receive a phone
call the day of their appointment.
New patients are not being accepted
at this time.
Pharmacy hours will be from
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday in Chelsea and the Bronx,
but those who need prescriptions
can get them delivered with Callen
Lorde’s free delivery service.
callen-lorde.org
Destination Tomorrow: The
Bronx LGBT Center: Closed
through the end of March. Programs,
drop-in services, meetings,
events, and groups are cancelled
until further notice.
destinationtomorrow.org
HMI
Fortune Society:The Fortune
Society announced on March 18
that it is open and would continue
providing services. Attempts were
unsuccessful to reach the organization
by phone on March 20 to
double-check the status of operations.
fortunesociety.org
Gay Men’s Health Crisis:GMHC
has closed building operations.
Some services will be provided remotely
via phone and video conferencing,
according to CEO Kelsey
Louie. The organization had distributed
nearly 1,600 meals in frozen
fi ve-meal packets in the days
up to March 17. The specifi cs of
GMHC’s future food distribution
services during the coronavirus
crisis is unclear; for further information
see this story.
ghmc.org
God’s Love We Deliver: GLWD
is currently providing shelf-stable
meal bags with enough food for a
week.
glwd.org
Griot Circle:In-person operations
are suspended and the offi ce
is closed indefi nitely. Griot Circle
will call members weekly to check
on them and coordinate with a case
manager to provide resources.
griotcircle.org/
Harlem United: Harlem United
has suspended some services and
changed the hours of others. The
Nest Community Health Center
will operate Monday through Friday
from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Food
and Nutrition Services will provide
takeaway meals every Monday
through Friday from 4 to 5 p.m.
Pantry bags will be distributed at
Foundation House East on Thursdays
from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and
at Willis Green, also on Thursdays,
from 4 to 5 p.m. Mobile Syringe
Exchange will operate outside 290
Malcolm X Boulevard on Mondays,
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The mobile unit will be in Coney Island
on Thursdays. Other services
are provided remotely.
harlemunited.org
Hetrick-Martin Institute:The
hot meal program has been replaced
by an on-site distribution
program consisting of groceries,
meals-to-go, and shelf-stable food
on Tuesdays and Fridays from 1
p.m. to 3 p.m. Toiletries and menstrual
hygiene will also be supplied.
As of March 18, youth were
receiving mobile tablets for remote
services such as virtual mental
health counseling, case management,
and Internet-based peer
support.
hmi.org/
Housing Works:Shops were
closed March 16, but clinics and
housing facilities remain open.
housingworks.org
Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community
Center:Groups and activities
suspended until March 31;
2020 gala postponed.
lgbtqcenter.org/
Immigration Equality: Offi ces
closed; legal assistance and meetings
with clients will be conducted
via phone.
immigrationequality.org
Jewish Board LGBT Counseling
Unit:Open.
jewishboard.org/
Latino Commission on AIDS:
The group continutes to “provide
our services with fl exible times
and adaptations to meet our community
needs.” Staff members are
being offered remote work options
and the team is working to ensure
➤ SERVICES, OPEN & CLOSED, continued on p.5
March 25 – April 08, 2 4 020 | GayCityNews.com
/glwd.org
/apicha.org
/avp.org
/boomhealth.org
/lgbtbrooklyn.org
/callen-lorde.org
/destinationtomorrow.org
/fortunesociety.org
/ghmc.org
/aliforneycenter.org
/griotcircle.org
/harlemunited.org
/hmi.org
/housingworks.org
/lgbtqcenter.org
/immigrationequality.org
/jewishboard.org
/GayCityNews.com
