PRIDE in Public Service: How Emily Grigg and PEU Meet LGBTQ+ New Yorkers Where They Are

This Pride Month, New York City's Public Engagement Unit (PEU) is celebrating both the vibrant history of the LGBTQ+ movement and the dedicated staff who bring its values of solidarity and community to life.

Among them is Emily Grigg, an outreach Data Specialist supporting PEU's Tenant Support Unit (TSU). Originally from Chicago, Emily finds living and working in the birthplace of the modern gay liberation movement profoundly inspiring. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community and the Queer adult marching band, Big Apple Corps, she stays deeply connected to the legacy of Stonewall, honoring both the joyful celebrations and the ongoing struggles for equal rights.

For Emily, this history directly informs her mission at PEU.

"New York's greatest strength is its diversity," she shares. "But every single person is unique and may need help."

LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly transgender New Yorkers, face a high risk of housing instability, discrimination, and homelessness. PEU meets this challenge head-on by meeting people exactly where they are—whether that means knocking on doors in local neighborhoods or picking up the phone. Through crucial programs like the Tenant Support Unit and the Rent Freeze Program, PEU helps New Yorkers navigate complex housing crises, stop evictions, and access vital benefits, regardless of their background or identity.

Ultimately, Emily views this citywide outreach as an extension of community care. "As members of the LGBT community, it is so important that even if we've never met someone before, if they are a part of the community, they are family. And that's what PEU is here for."