Ali Forney Center - New York, New York

Diondre Hill

I was in the area doing some runs, and noticed they changed locations, so I decided to give my review again.

There are some weird natured, judgemental and mean staff who act like your existence isn't tolerated in the slightest and who will treat you bad until you crack, then act like you're a crashout. Fortunately, I was well behaved, but I still had to go 2 nights without a bed because the overnight staff formed a vendetta against me for not having a mask on when going to the bathroom even though the gay polycule (ugh) didn't have masks on, then in order to cover up their bad behavior, the staff told everyone to put they masks on, to make the attack seem less targeted. Yuck. They treat you based on age and looks, which is moderately fine, but I was 23 at the time (in October, with a Birthday in May of next year) and they was rushing to get me out the door, which was a consistent source of frustration for me. Things could've changed with the staff, it's been 2 years since I been there and I don't remember names, but in general it's mediocre and your experience depends on your restraint, especially in overnight.

Some of the staff are genuinely good people. The BOMBAS socks are awesome, I wish I had 5 more pairs. Overnight sometimes gives incentives. The center is usually clean. Day staff is decent. Not as dirty as other shelters. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner are available, and sometimes a 3rd party will host an event or offer to gain money. You should go here, but don't expect heaven or a miracle. It's just a place you need to go to get things done. On that level, it suffices.

I'm still only leaving 2 stars because I know the games people play and can sidestep the bullshit easily. If I was less controlled, this place would've been horrible for me, having the constantly be exceptionally behaved despite not talking or doing much because of vendettas is not my idea of a good time. The case managers at the time were horrible at their job and require YOU to engage with them constantly. I would hope things have changed...

Hiba Aly

The absolute worst place , they get millions and millions of dollars in funding but NO ONE gets housed . WHERE DOES THE MONEY GOThe staff in overnight is soooo unprofessional and treat you like you’re a bug on the floor . There’s no showers in the drop in and barely anything in the fridge . This place is a joke there’s a sprinkle of staff that care but everyone else there needs to work elsewhere because how are you dealing with the most vulnerable and then you just bully us?!!! They pretend they care on paper but laugh in your face at your situation . Why does it take me sleeping on the train for a simple application to be put in for a voucher I should have been entitled to … smh . There’s absolutely no room to voice your opinion because then you’re just called ungrateful.

Michele scoular

Review for a friend, he had kept to himself and just this last week or so (May 10 2024) and the staff started picking on him and had kicked him out because a staff lied about him putting his hands on then when cameras were pulled and show what the staff was doing.

Dean Elyjah

There are no words to fully express our gratitude ? for all The Ali Forney Center has done and continues to do for the LGBTQIA+ Youth in New York and around the globe, Dean & Stephen Elyjah-Williams

Sying Moore

Ali forney is a great place to go if you stick to your guns. It was my last resort and I had no other choice. Just follow the procedure and keep your chin up and they will make sure you get somewhere more comfortable. The staff is helpful and the places you are moved to are really great and more comfortable than any place I've ever been where they even have a kitchen and people will come and cook you real food. Be strong, stay safe, choose Ali forney.

Jem Botsford

Safe and friendly place except for overnight they nice til they not. Very helpful if they like u if they don't they spread lies about u and gang up on u. Like my fiancé and I went they and they ganged up on her during a panic attack she threw her bottle of water at the fridge which it hit the fridge and the safflied and said that it had hit them and then she was asked to leave we came back together a year later she has a different name now and a wig because her hair was ruined by a barbershop in New York City. They called her and said don't ever come back here we don't want you here because you threw a water bottle at a staff member last year and u tried to use another person to get u in and u tried to cover up who you were by using a different name and a wig and the wig she didn't even have when we first went there she had gotten it after her hair was ruined while we were there. When she went to tell her her side of the story and how she changed her name and what had happened with her hair the lady then said don't give me any excuses I don't need that b*** just don't come back in the building.

Alexander Sisco

I was at AFC, from March 2019, to May 2021 when I moved into a supportive housing studio. The things I saw at my time during AFC were... horrendous to say the least. I've seen people get verbally abused and degraded by staff here, and have the staff face no punishment for it. I've seen people be told they are essentially lesser beings because they are homeless and trans.
They refuse to accommodate people with disabilities. When I was at trans housing, the beds broke constantly, the toilet seats broke constantly, the cabinets literally fell of the wall. They will make you feel like you are worthless. They will gaslight you until you believe they were right and you were wrong. They will make you doubt your own reality. They tell their donors that they are helping change the lives of LGBTQ youth, but it's not for the positive especially for BIPOC youth. You'll leave AFC with even more trauma then you came in with.

There's been staff at AFC that were so Anti Black, that some YCs literally left. The trans housing susperviors (One of which is a well known person on social media), have caused distress to many Residents and YCs of color.

They do horrible things. They have a fake persona That they're doing the best things and making a huge difference
But all their doing is harming and traumatizing everyone

Alex Ranamaré

horrible place, do not go here unless you have no other choice. the staff are rude and insensitive, the case managers do not care and do not do their job. i spent 6 months in emergency housing stuck because they would not listen to my needs. the site manager ariel is very rude and careless.