In a virtual public forum on Thursday, New York City youth addressed the pressing concerns of foster, immigrant, and homeless populations that are often overlooked by politicians.
Zaqanah, a 22-year-old who has experienced the challenges of moving in and out of shelters, shared her frustrations about the housing crisis.
She expressed feeling helpless, stating, “Landlords ignore me. Brokers ask for extra fees, and the apartments I’m offered are in buildings with roaches, leaks or no heat. Where’s the safe and permanent housing for young people in shelters right now? It feels like the system gave me a key to a door that doesn’t exist.”
The forum, named Youth in Focus, was hosted by the public policy think tank Next100 alongside several nonprofit organizations catering to vulnerable youth.
Despite invitations extended to all 12 mayoral candidates for New York City, many leading figures opted out of attending. Notably absent were former Governor Andrew Cuomo and current Mayor Eric Adams, who is now running as an independent after withdrawing from the Democratic primary.
Several others, including current city Comptroller Brad Lander and state Senator Zellnor Myrie, also declined to participate at the last minute, according to the forum’s organizers.
Attendees, who identified themselves by first names only, posed several critical questions about addressing the lack of affordable mental health care, fear of detainment by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the overall inadequate housing situation.
Lilly, a former foster youth, recalled her experience of being signed out of foster care without her consent at 18.
“I thought I’d finally have a stable home — but then they kicked me out,” she lamented. “What are you doing for youth like me who are caught in this gap, with no support and no safety net?”
Michael Blake, a candidate and former aide in the Obama administration, responded passionately about the gravity of the current situation, branding it “inhumane.”
He emphasized that, if elected mayor, he would collaborate with organizations like Think of Us to offer job and housing assistance for youth aging out of foster care.
Moreover, Blake focused on the inadequacies surrounding the screening processes for foster parents, suggesting those who fail to meet appropriate standards should be banned from accepting another foster child.
“They should be banned from having access to another foster child,” he stated emphatically.
Ramos also highlighted her experiences growing up as the first American-born daughter of Mexican immigrants.
As chair of the New York Senate Committee on Labor, she proposed major investments in supportive housing and mixed-income developments that would include on-site services.
Ramos stressed the importance of penalizing landlords who refuse to accept housing vouchers, indicating that this would help alleviate some of the burdens on vulnerable populations, particularly LGBTQ+ youths who are often on the brink of homelessness.
“I want to make sure that we’re helping young LGBTQ+ community people who are also many times on the brink of homelessness,” she noted while emphasizing her commitment to housing solutions.
Both Blake and Ramos recognized the need for dedicated immigration clinics to assist undocumented youth in accessing legal services.
Candidates also focused on improving schools in low-income communities, with City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams criticizing Mayor Adams for cutting education funding.
“We should not be paying for the misdeeds of a mayor who has not stepped up for the interest of the people,” she asserted.
Adams outlined her ambitious proposal for a guaranteed basic income program to address homelessness, which she introduced earlier that month.
Through this program, thousands of young children experiencing homelessness, as well as unaccompanied homeless youth, would be eligible for monthly checks aimed at supporting their needs.
The candidates unanimously condemned the current city administration, which has been marred by accusations of corruption and nepotism.
Recent events have further jeopardized the integrity of the administration, such as Mayor Adams’ indictment on federal bribery, fraud, and conspiracy charges last September, ensuing resignations within his team, including the influential head of child welfare, Anne Williams-Isom.
The forum was vital for raising awareness of the challenges that youth face in New York City and elicited strong promises from candidates.
Emphasizing their commitment to immigrant communities, Blake insisted on the need to protect these communities from ICE interventions.
“We have a mayor that’s been collaborating with Trump around ICE,” he declared.
“There is no place for ICE at our schools, our community centers, and our places of worship. It is unconstitutional, it is wrong, and we will work together to empower our immigrant communities.”
Overall, the Youth in Focus forum represented a significant engagement between candidates and young residents of New York City, highlighting the urgent need for reforms and support in the areas of housing, mental health, and immigrant rights.
The event also showcased the voices of those who typically feel excluded from political conversations but are critical to shaping the future of the city.
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