160+ LGBT Community Centers Request COVID Relief Funds

It has been several weeks since Congress passed the first stimulus package, and leadership in both the Senate and the House are planning to add new resources to assist hundreds of thousands of organizations and individuals who face financial crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers is bringing attention to its 250+ community center members, who provide vital information, education, and social and health services to almost 40,000 people each week, or over 1.9 million people annually. A letter signed by over 120 LGBTQ+ community centers was sent to House and Senate leaders today, asking them to include nonprofits who serve the LGBTQ+ population in future relief packages.

The first stimulus package was a good start toward recognizing and addressing the needs nonprofits face now, but the reality is that more will be necessary. There is an even greater demand for organizations such as LGBTQ+ centers to provide ongoing services to the most vulnerable populations within their communities. “Centers across the nation continue to offer food, medical care, housing, and other basic necessities during the COVID-19 pandemic”, said CenterLink Interim CEO Denise Spivak. “At this moment, the need for services has never been greater.” There is, and will be for months to come, a critical need for the support that is best provided by hundreds of LGBTQ+ organizations, big and small. Congress must include additional funding in future stimulus packages in order for LGBTQ+ centers to continue to provide life-saving services to communities.

CenterLink develops strong, sustainable LGBT community centers and builds a thriving center network that creates healthy, vibrant communities. Founded in 1994, CenterLink strengthens, supports, and connects LGBTQ community centers. The organization plays an important role in addressing the challenges centers face by helping them to improve their organizational and service delivery capacity, access public resources, and engage their regional communities in the grassroots social justice movement.