“But the four beds aren’t enough,” Levine said. “We get calls daily for assistance.” They especially get calls from people who have recently aged out of care at facili- ties meant to serve homeless children. Once they turn 18, they have to go to adult shel- ters, which can sometimes be frightening, Levine said. “You walk into this place with all these adults and you have to navigate how to survive,” she said. These shelters know it can be over- whelming for their newer, younger resi- dents. When they can, the other shelters will call The Promise House to see if they have room for those between 18 and 24 years old. Things might be easier at a shelter dedicated to people in that age range with a focus on providing services to LGBTQ individuals. “You’re still going to be scared, but at least it’ll be a little more comfortable,” Levine ex- plained. The city is looking to fund a place like that. In a posting on its procurement portal, the city of Dallas said it wants to throw $6 million into a real estate development proj- ect aimed to provide housing for homeless LGBTQ youth between 18 and 24 years old. Dallas is still in the early stages of the project. It’s seeking advice from local non- profits about what such housing would look like and what services it should provide. There are a few shelters and organizations in Dallas that help serve homeless LGBTQ youths. The Dallas Hope Center opened in 2018 to provide transitional housing and services to young people in the LGBTQ community who are facing homelessness. The same year, Metro Dallas Homeless Alli- ance found that a quarter of youths living on the street identified as being part of the LGBT community, according to KERA. But there have been calls for the city to put its own many into such a project for some time. In 2017, city residents voted for a $20 million bond package to tackle homelessness. “So now we just need the city to allocate about $4 million to building a shelter for our LGBTQ homeless, a place where they can be safe and have resources to get them back on their feet and out of the homeless cycle,” then-City Council member Adam Medrano said. “And that’s why I’m committed to mak- ing sure the city of Dallas [puts] our money where our mouth is. We want to do this.” That never happened, and calls for such a city-funded facility continued. Outlast Youth, a homeless LGBTQ youth advocacy group, asked the city in 2020 to al- locate $3 million of the bond package money to create an emergency shelter. The shelter would have served any young adult, but with a focus on LGBTQ individuals. That’s how the city is billing this latest ef- fort, as an LGBTQ focused real estate project for homeless youths. The city hopes the facil- ity will provide childcare services, counsel- ing, teen pregnancy needs and other services. Across the U.S., about 22% of homeless youths identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual. Also, many people in the LGBTQ community have reported homelessness in different stages of their lives, according to The Williams Insti- tute on Sexual Orientation and Gender Iden- tity Law and Public Policy. About 71% of LGBTQIA+ individuals were homeless after turning 18. About one-fifth were homeless be- fore they turned 18, and 8.6% were homeless in D Kate Pezzulli Last week, some 20 Spirit Airlines employees protested at DFW Airport. their youth and adult lives. Levine said she’s excited the city is pur- suing the new project “because it’s needed.” ▼ TRAVEL WITH FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS HAMPERING TRAVEL, SPIRIT AIRLINES EMPLOYEES SAY THE COMPANY HAS REPEATEDLY LEFT THEM STRANDED WITHOUT ACCOMMODATION. BY KATE PEZZULLI LOW SPIRITS general gamble on takeoff and landing times. Those inconveniences, however, have re- cently taken a turn for the worse, with a large portion of flights getting flat-out canceled. But canceled flights aren’t just leaving S passengers stranded. Spirit employees say they’ve repeatedly been left in cities around the country without information or re- course from their employer. That’s why around 20 Spirit flight attendants picketed at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport last Thursday. Standing outside the Spirit ticketing office at the departure gate at DFW, a line of flight attendants and pilots held signs and chanted slogans. “What do we want? Respect!” they shouted. “When do we want it? Now!” This picket was organized by the flight attendant’s union, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. “A week ago, Spirit Airlines management once again cancelled over 30% of our flights for the fourth time since August,” said David Bedene, president of the AFA’s Local 74 out of DFW. “We Spirit flight attendants are out picketing today to raise our voices to say enough is enough and stop stranding our passengers and crew.” Since the start of the year, airline travel has been hampered time and again by fits of bad weather, COVID-19 surges, logistical mishaps and staffing shortages. Earlier this month, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants union said stranded flight staff were left to sleep in airports. On Thurs- day alone, nearly 500 flights within, out of or into the U.S. were canceled, according to pirit Airlines is known for cheaper ticket prices – prices that usually come with a few inconveniences and a FlightAware. At DFW on Thursday, the protesting flight attendants held up placards criticizing Spirit over the cancellations. “Stranded for 3 days without a hotel and no answers? Us too,” said one. Another read, “Low fares, low wages, low morale, Spirit Airlines.” Yet another said, “You think it is bad fly- ing Spirit? Try working here.” Despite being stranded without hotel ac- commodations, food, overtime pay or any other support from the company, the flight attendants remain on the clock and still have to help the equally frustrated customers, they say. Even when they call their employer to try to get answers, they simply aren’t given any clarity. “We will not remain silent and stand by while Spirit continues to violate our con- tract leaving us on duty for 20+ hours after flight cancellations,” Bedene said. “They left us on hold with the company for hours with- out answers and [are] making us sleep on airport floors.” It was the second picket from Spirit em- ployees that week, this first being held in Or- lando on Monday. By email, Spirit Airlines responded to questions about the cancellations and pick- ets with a prepared statement. “We are grateful for our incredible Spirit Family, and we’re committed to finding ways to better support our Team Members and address the issues of most importance to them,” the company wrote. “We’ve been through so much together throughout the pandemic, and we are committed to making the necessary investments to build a stron- ger and more resilient airline for both our Team Members and Guests.” Spirit employees claim that Spirit has a contractual obligation to fix these problems and stop stranding them across the country. Bedene said Spirit did not offer any rec- onciliation after the picket in Orlando, but he hopes they will come to the table to dis- cuss solutions. “We’re hoping … to make them listen to what we need and to make sure they follow our contract going forward,” Bedene said. The attendants say they will continue to picket if things don’t improve. 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