Choosing a safe area to live tips please?

[Concerned father]

So guys, the Housing Navigator had told me a few days ago that she does have a few Transgenders clients living in safer areas here in NY but does not have availability right now in those specific areas. She had also suggested we look in a "Jewish" community or close to it, anyone can agree with this? 

 

Also any tips on all things we should consider when looking for a location and also an apartment please?

 

Just some months back a Gay man was beaten in an elevator with him having done absolutely nothing wrong. Right now, here in NY bigotry is at an all time high and so too is crime on the streets so you all can understand my fears.

[Vidanjali]

Hi there. You mentioned in your intro post that your child is pursuing a bachelor's degree. Does the college offer housing? If it's a commuter college, there may be a network for student housing. Moreover, the college may have an LGBTQ+ student organization such as GSA (gay straight alliance, sometimes known as gender sexuality alliance). You may encourage your child to reach out to any such queer student organization because they will find allies there, if not friends, and possibly some connections regarding housing. 

 

If your child requires special housing circumstances due to autism, that is a different matter. I'm not familiar with the role "housing navigator". Is that someone who aids folks with special needs? Note that there should also be an office for student accessibility/disabilities at your child's college. It may be helpful to reach out to them as well - such an office usually only deals with educational accessibility, but they may know of more resources you and your child could access. 

 

I'm not sure why Jewish communities were recommended. 

 

[Concerned father]

All great points which I will look into, thank you very much!

 

We are waiting to find out about the Dorm housing and should know by this w/e or next week but still way I see it is that will be only a temp solution as I will still need to get him a place in 8 months.

 

Yes, a Housing Navigator is someone who assists the Disability community with housing. 

 

The Navigator had mentioned a Jewish Community as an option because she says his chances of discrimination in their neighborhood would be a lot less. 

 

I like the idea of reaching out to the Student offices who should be a great resource for this but will need to wait until August when classes resume to find out. So for right now, if he should need to get a place before then I am looking for best options.

 

Navigator sent me an available Apartment in the Bronx here in NY earlier this morning but what should I look for far as the neighborhood is concerned is where I'm lost.

 

 

[Vidanjali]

You're welcome. There are many resources on the web which advise about relative safety / crime rates, etc. in NYC neighborhoods. I have several queer friends in Brooklyn and they live happily and safely. Here's an article about queer-friendly areas of NYC. I concur with the Brooklyn neighborhoods listed in the article, as I have spent time in them.

 

https://www.localize.city/blog/lgbtq-friendly-neighborhoods-of-new-york-city/

 

[Concerned father]

Wow, that's a great start, thank you very much, it will give me some starting points.

 

I think immediate problem though as stated by the Navigator is knowing if an area "where they might have availability" will be safe? As an example early this morning, the Navigator had sent me a listing for an Apartment in Morris heights in The Bronx. So our predicament is how to know if that Apartment will be safe for him?

 

it's not like we can choose any given area and he can go live there. it will depend on the rent for an apartment and also if a landlord will rent to him, see what I mean?

 

 

[Vidanjali]

Yes, of course. Anyone shopping for an apartment, queer or autistic issues notwithstanding, would have the same challenges. It requires much digging, crossreferencing and vigilance to find a place. You can start with determining desirable neighborhoods, then use an online tool such as padmapper to sort by price and other qualities. For instance, here's a screenshot. I searched for studios and 1 bedrooms in Brooklyn. You can see pins on the map showing where the place is as well as photos of the place. You can communicate with the landlords through the app/website too to ask them questions and get a feel for what working with them would be like. It's useful to check out what's available daily because desirable places go fast.