Valley's first LGBTQ+ homeless shelter opening in 2025

The Mahoning Valley's first homeless shelter specifically tailored to the LGBTQ community will be opening in 2025. 

The shelter is a LGBTQIA+ adult 30 to 90 day transitional homeless shelter. This is the first of its kind within a 40 mile radius of the valley.

The Full Spectrum Housing Division has been in the works for over 5 years. Throughout that time, members of Full Spectrum Community Outreach have been fundraising and planning for the shelter’s opening.

The goal is to provide a safe place for LGBTQ people who may face discrimination at another shelter.

“It's really important to have people around you who understand you, to come together as a group. You’re stronger as a group than as an individual,” said Charity Weidow, Housing Division Director at Full Spectrum Community Outreach Center.

Once opened, the shelter will hold six people, but there are plans to expand in the future. While the valley has multiple shelters, many have strict policies that are not always welcoming. That's a gap in care that's particularly harmful to the LGBTQ population.

Studies show 40% of the youth homeless population identifies as LGBTQ. This means there is 120% greater risk of homelessness to members of the LGBTQ community than the population as a whole. 

“There’s not enough services that we need for our community. The only other shelters that do these kinds of services are 40 miles from us. We have one in Pittsburgh, we have one in Cleveland. And as you can imagine, because those are the only two, they are very full. And a lot of the population that we’re trying to serve may not have vehicles to go out that far,” said Weidow.

Full Spectrum Community Outreach will be offering more than just housing. Anyone in the shelter will have access to hygiene products, food provided through Second Harvest Food Bank, volunteer opportunities, housing assistance and life skill classes.

“We’re going to help fund permanent supportive housing for these people. We also have hygiene products. We have a clothing closet so they can match their gender identity. We’ll be providing all the food for them, through our organization with Second Harvest Food Bank. We also have support groups, peer management. We are hoping to do budgeting classes and cooking classes. So, our main goal is for people to leave better than they came in,” said Weidow.

For safety concerns, the location of the shelter has not been announced. 

Full Spectrum Community Outreach is looking to raise $30,000 for shelter updates, repairs and supplies. You can donate here.