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In early 2005, the Foundation awarded $4,500 to the Peter Cicchino Youth Project (PCYP) at the Urban Justice Center in New York City.
In the first half of 2005, PCYP handled over 235 cases. It opened 128 cases on behalf of over 100 clients, and closed 139. Following are a few sample client stories illustrating the kinds of issues PCYP's clients face and the Project’s work on their behalf:
"Carrie," a young lesbian, was referred to PCYP after having run away from the 12th foster home is 2 years. She said that her foster care mother was religious and very homophobic. However, her religiously-affiliated foster care agency did not believe that the situation in Carrie’s foster family was serious enough to warrant a transfer. As a result of PCYP's advocacy on her behalf with the foster care agency, Carrie was transferred to another foster family, one that accepted and supported her.
"Gabriel," an 18 year orphaned gay youth, had been living in foster care. After a few years in care, an aunt stepped forward to take him and the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) released Gabriel to her on an "extended home pass" to see whether it would be a good living arrangement. Meanwhile, ACS continued to cash Gabriel’s Social Security survivor benefit checks. Gabriel and his aunt sought unsuccessfully to obtain these benefits for themselves, since ACS no longer provided for Gabriel’s daily needs. After PCYP presented the research and threatened to bring a lawsuit to recover Gabriel’s funds, ACS relented and issued Gabriel the $2,500 he was owed. Now that Gabriel has graduated from high school, this money can be used to help pay for college.
"Antonio," a 19 year old gay man, came from
Mexico at age 16, where he fled mistreatment by his family and community.
His parents had kicked him out of the house because he is gay. Homeless
and on the streets in Mexico, Antonio tried to get a job, but no one would
hire him because of his sexual orientation. A friend's mother took him
in and gave him money to go to the United States, but his uncle in the
New York threw him out to the streets when he learned Antonio was gay.
Antonio then fell in with an older man who was abusive. Antonio attempted
suicide and wound up in a psychiatric hospital. A PCYP attorney helped
Antonio secure a Mexican passport so that he has some form of identification
and PCYP is now preparing to file an asylum case on his behalf to secure
legal status in the United States.
