By Wilfred Labiosa, PhD | Executive Director
Waves Ahead, in 2021, conducted a needs assessment on LGBT+ elders (50 plus) and found the following among the 509 Respondents (Age range – 50 to 78):
- 80% had no children and 78% not in a relationship
- 1 in 5 reported not having a stable housing and 8% didn’t have a place to sleep.
- 20% had their utilities shut off due to a lack of payment.
- 3 in 10 reported not having food to eat tonight.
- 22% couldn’t access the medical services they needed
- 19% couldn’t affort their copays for medications or medical visits
Waves Ahead Corp continues to provide life-saving services to the older LGBT+ community in Puerto Rico. The LGBT+ community and the LGBT+ elders continue to be marginalized and forgotten by the mainstream agencies and service providers. Waves Ahead is the only direct service provider in Puerto Rico that focuses on this population and is for Todes (for all).
Waves Ahead manages 5 community centers, located in Maunabo (southeast region), Cabo Rojo (soutwest region), Isabela (northwest region), Loiza (northeast region), and San Juan metro area. We provide each month 110 food boxes to individuals in need of food plus case management, and mental health sessions. In all, almost 380+ individuals receive one or more of our ongoing interventions that focused on the mental health being of each individual. In addition, we provide safe spaces and activities for them to meet others like them; for example, thursday movie nights, yoga and meditation classes four times a week, mindfulness sessions, and supports groups for the trans/non-binary community (RaMaDaSa support groups every tuesday evening) and for gay/bi gay men (Fresas y Chocolate support groups every monday).
In 2024, Waves Ahead will be opening the first shelter focused on the LGBT+ community with a focus on LGBT+ elders with 30 beds and 5 transitional housing units plus a community kitchen. Soraya's Shelter and Mama Ruddy's Kitchen will be the first of its kind in Puerto Rico.
For more information on our projects and ongoing services, look for Waves Ahead Puerto Rico in all social media platforms or visit our website, www.wavesahead.org
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By Wilfred W. Labiosa | Executive Director
By Wilfred W. Labiosa | Executive Director
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