For lgbtq+
LGBTQ+ affirming shelters and resources
Shelters and resources that are explicitly LGBTQ+ affirming, plus crisis lines staffed by people who get it.
Crisis lines and quick contacts
Trans Lifeline
US & CA1-877-565-8860
Crisis line staffed by trans operators. US: 1-877-565-8860. Canada: 1-877-330-6366.
Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ under 25)
US & CA1-866-488-7386
Free, 24/7. Crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people. Text START to 678-678.
LGBT National Hotline
US1-888-843-4564
Confidential support and resource referrals.
Find lgbtq+-specific resources near you
Showing 55 resources that specifically serve lgbtq+. Type your city or share your location to rank them by distance.
Top cities for lgbtq+ resources
National & regional charities
Effective organizations for donating, volunteering, or finding help. We don't take a cut — every link goes directly to the charity.
Ali Forney Center (NYC)
Largest LGBTQ+ youth housing provider in the US.
Visit aliforneycenter.org ↗
Los Angeles LGBT Center
Largest LGBT center in the world. Youth housing, healthcare, mental health.
Visit lalgbtcenter.org ↗
Egale Centre (Toronto)
Canada's first LGBTQ+-specific homeless youth shelter.
Visit egale.ca ↗
Morris Home (Philadelphia)
First trans-specific behavioral health residence in the US.
Visit rhd.org ↗
What to know
- • If a shelter has been hostile, you don't have to go back. Ask intake at any drop-in center for a referral to an affirming shelter.
- • Trans-specific shelters are rare but growing. The 519 (Toronto), Ali Forney (NYC), and Morris Home (Philly) are explicit. Many women's shelters are now trans-inclusive — they may not advertise it on the website but accept trans women.
- • Save legal name and gender marker change paperwork digitally. If you lose physical copies, recovering them as an unhoused person is much harder.
- • Atira (Vancouver), DEWC (Vancouver), and Sistering (Toronto) are explicitly trans-inclusive women's drop-ins / shelters in Canada.