Who do we serve?

Are you a youth age 14 - 23? Do you need a place to help find resources, get advice, talk to a friend or just relax? SafeHomes provides support for LGBT youth and their straight allies. Young people at Safe Homes come from Worcester and surrounding towns. Some are still in high school or college, and some have jobs or attend work-training programs. Though we all come from different experiences and backgrounds, we are united in our support for one another.

Why do young people come to Safe Homes?

They come for many different reasons. Some need support and advocacy around GLBTG issues as they try to change things in their homes and schools. Others need encouragement and seek advice from adult advisors at the program. Our peer leadership program offers young people the opportunity to become involved in the decision making process, while providing a sense of pride and ownership of the program.

We always welcome new faces, and hope to see you soon. To find more information about our meetings click here.

“Safe Homes means so much to me. It is the most worthwhile thing that I have ever hd the honor of being a part of.  It is the one thing that I look forward to every week.  It doesn't matter who you are, you are accepted.  You have a family.” A Safe Homes Youth

“I've been starting to come recently on a regular basis but already it means so much to me.  Safe Homes is a place where you can be yourself, have fun, and get support if you need it.  We're an LGBT group and I'm finally coming out as being bisexual.  Safe Homes has helped me through the process of figuring out who I am. Sor far it has made me feel comfortable and cared for."          A Safe Homes Youth

Youth Success Story

A therapist reached out to us when his young client “came out” and was rejected by his foster mother. His foster mother was in the process of retaining legal guardianship of him and had talked about adopting him when he came out. She asked that DCF find another placement for him while she took away phone privileges, refused to allow any of his friends in her home, asked him not to talk about his sexual orientation and  to hide it from anyone in her home. She joined with the priest at her church and  paraded him in front of the whole Congregation where they encircled him and tried to cleanse the evil out of him. This young man who had already been traumatized as a child was completed devastated and hopeless at that point.

The agency in charge of his placement was complacent in their response to the foster mother and even challenged his right to come to Safe Homes when we tried to step in and  advocate for him. We were able to work with his therapist to assure his involvement with Safe Homes and to educate them on his right NOT to be forced into conversion therapies. This young person secured his rights, eventually became a peer leader and was adopted by two lesbian moms a few years later.

He became one of our most dedicated, outspoken youth in regards to the rights of LGBT youth in foster care and school settings. He became active in conducting presentations and trainings with us. When we had the opportunity to go back to the host agency where he was placed to provide a training he jumped at the chance. He shared his story with social workers and foster parents. It wasn’t until the training was almost over that he noticed “his foster mother” there in the group. The two of them embraced and shared a few tears afterwards as  told him she was wrong and she never stopped caring about him. He now lives in the Virgin Islands with his adoptive Moms and a little sister. He came to visit a month ago and said he’ll always be grateful for us saving his life and will always think of us as his second family.