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Throughout history, churches have been places of safety for people all over the world, welcoming spaces that often provide food, safety, and community.
But although they may have been beacons of light for many, they have historically not been places of safety for those in the LGBTQ+ and other marginalized communities.
In many Christian traditions, especially within institutions such as the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, same-sex relationships were historically condemned based on interpretations of biblical texts, and LGBTQ+ people often faced exclusion or punishment. During periods such as the medieval era and the Reformation, both Catholic and emerging Protestant communities reinforced moral teachings that framed homosexuality as sinful.
North Hill Christian Church in Spokane, Washington, is changing that. It is converting what was formerly a Sunday school room into an emergency shelter space for LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness. The church partnered with the local nonprofit Jewels Helping Hand to create what it calls the Aurora Center.
“I realized [that] in Spokane, [being] LGBTQ+ is not [accepted]… This is the first [such] center I’ve seen,” said Ronald, a worker at Jewels Helping Hand.
The Aurora Center
The shelter provides 15 beds and 24/7 trauma-informed care in a setting designed to feel safe and affirming for self-identifying members of the LGBTQ+ community — something organizers say was previously lacking in the local shelter system.
“All beds [were] filled a week after it was opened. Shows how it’s really been needed,” said a pastor at North Christian Church.
The organizers of the Aurora Center say they’ve found that Queer people are not treated the same as the general population in homeless shelters, where LGBTQ+ residents often feel unsafe among non-Queer guests.
The shelter still follows the same rules as local shelters, however. Residents need a referral from the housing navigation center, providers, or case managers. But once they are there, they can stay for 90 days. After that, they are assessed to see if they’ve reached their treatment goals, and another 90-day stay becomes possible.
Many local LGBTQ+ advocates and service providers have strongly supported the effort, arguing that Queer and especially Transgender people face higher rates of homelessness, as well as harassment in traditional shelters.
Groups like PFLAG Spokane and Spokane Pride have emphasized the need for affirming, trauma-informed spaces. Supporters often frame the shelter as a safety measure, not preferential treatment — pointing to documented disparities in homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth and adults.
Other efforts
According to the National Network for Youth, up to 40% of youth experiencing homelessness in the US identify as LGBTQ+, even though Queer youth make up only about 7–9.5% of the general youth population. This means Queer and Trans young people are significantly overrepresented among those without stable housing.
Luckily, similar efforts are being made worldwide. In New York, the Ali Forney Center provides housing, supportive services, and protections for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness.
Across the pond in London, The Outside Project launched a new community center and shelter offering year-round housing advocacy, drop-in support, domestic abuse help, and other services tailored for LGBTQ+ homeless people.
Closer to home, in Oregon, the Lavender Network recently opened a dedicated center in Eugene where LGBTQ+ people can drop in for support, connection, and services.
Together, these spaces suggest something powerful: community can grow in places where many once thought it impossible.
So maybe things are changing. Here’s hoping that every person will find their safe space, whether that’s in a church or not.
