It is estimated that 20%-40% of homeless youth in the United States identify as LGBTQ. We are particularly at-risk of shelter displacement for a variety of reasons including rejection by parents or by unsupportive foster homes. Wherever you are, please know there are resources available to you. Shelters exist throughout Pennsylvania – all existing to help and support people in times of need. This page is by no means an exhaustive list of resources in Pennsylvania and is intended to build over time – but we believe it is important to have a place online where shelters which have been noted as LGBTQ youth affirming can be noted in a centralized space.

PYC is a statewide network of LGBTQ youth – and we are here to help in any way we can. However, we are not a service agency and do not run direct work in homelessness care or support. Please contact service providers in your area to connect with a local shelter. If you would like to add a LGBTQ youth friendly shelter option, please email us at info@payouthcongress.org with the name and contact information of the institution or program and context as to how the program is supportive for LGBTQ youth.

Please research each program on your own – PYC does not endorse any of the following resources and they are listed only for informational purposes.

Northeastern Pennsylvania

Manna House Apartments (Wilkes-Barre)
Volunteers of America’s Manna House Apartments, located in Wilkes-Barre, offers transitional housing for homeless young adults, ages 18-25 years old.  The program provides eight units of safe, affordable housing as well as support services so that residents can build skills, obtain employment and transition to permanent housing within two years.

Southeastern PA

The Valley Youth House (Bethlehem and Warminster)

The mission of Valley Youth House is to provide prevention and intervention services, counseling, life skills and behavioral health services to abused, neglected, and homeless youth and their families. Valley Youth House programs foster positive growth enabling at risk youth and their families to become healthy, productive, responsible members of the community.

Bethlehem: The Lehigh Valley Youth House is a twelve-bed facility for runaway and homeless youth between the ages of 12 and 17, open 24 hours, 365 days per year. Youth may enter the Shelter and receive counseling and other Shelter services at any time during the day or night. While protecting children from the dangers of the street, counselors attempt to resolve the crisis that precipitated the runaway incident and obtain long term living situations for youth. The Shelter is located at 539 Eighth Avenue, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 18018. Call: 610-691-1200.

Warminster: The Bucks County Shelter is open 24 hours, 365 days per year for emergency shelter and
services for youth ages 6-20. The shelter was opened in Warminster, Bucks County, in March of 2002 to serve Bucks County youth, aged 6-18, referred through Bucks County Children and Youth Services. The Shelter also serves runaway and homeless youth ages 12-17. The 12-bed shelter provides the unique capacity to serve child and adolescent sibling groups while working toward family reunification or longer term residential care. Youth can travel to their home schools or attend an in house educational program. The Shelter is located at 800 N. York Road, Bldg. 22, Warminster, Pennsylvania, 18974. Call: 215-442-9760

Philadelphia

Community Partner: Please contact The Attic Youth Center for more resources for LGBTQ youth in Philadelphia at 215-545-4331.

Central Pennsylvania

Burrowes Street Youth Haven (State College)
The Burrowes Street Youth Haven (BSYH) is a four-bed facility located in State College, PA. This voluntary shelter houses both males and females ages 12 through 18, for a maximum of 15 days. The youth that benefit from our services are homeless, runaways or are at risk for either of those two conditions due to difficulties within their home. Youth are welcome to access this shelter whenever they need a safe place to stay, day or night. There are caring, professional counselors at the facility 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to offer their assistance for both residential or drop in care. All of the services offered to both youth and their families are free and confidential.

Community Partner: Please contact the LGBT Center of Central Pennsylvania for more resources for LGBTQ youth in the south central region at 717-920-9534.

Erie

Safenet Domestic Violence Safety Network (Erie)
Safenet provides shelter for victims of domestic violence, counseling, legal advocacy, transitional living programs, domestic violence prevention initiatives. They can be reached by calling 814-455-1774.

Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania

Community Partner: Please contact the Hugh Lane Wellness Foundation for more resources.

Community Partner: Please contact the QMunity Center for more resources.

Community Partner: Please contact PERSAD for more resources.