Refuge Co-Housing LGBT+ is a co-housing structure, managed by Gay Center, aimed at young LGBT+ people who have experienced violence, discrimination, and/or migration. This inclusion-focused project is being launched for the first time in the heart of Rome.
The project is supported by 8×1000 funds from the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai, which ensures its management; Flying Tiger Copenhagen, which co-funded the renovation costs; and the facility itself, a property confiscated from the mafia, was assigned with the commitment of Rome’s Municipio 1.
The facility, which opened this summer, provides semi-autonomous accommodation for up to three LGBT+ individuals who have faced violence and discrimination, for the first time in central Rome.
At the facility’s inauguration, attendees included Lorenza Bonaccorsi, President of Municipio 1 in Rome, Claudia Santoloce, Equal Opportunities Councillor for Municipio 1, Marina Marini, Head of the LGBT+ Refuge Network, and Francesco Sangregorio from the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai.
The two young residents currently living at Refuge Co-Housing LGBT+ greeted the guests by preparing a breakfast treat and shared their personal stories, highlighting the importance of this opportunity and support in regaining hope and building a future free from fear, where they can fully express their potential.
Press Release
LGBT+ YOUTH SAVED BY REFUGE CO-HOUSING LGBT+
Refuge Co-Housing LGBT+ is a co-housing facility managed by Gay Center, for LGBT+ youth who are victims of violence, discrimination, and/or migrants. This inclusion-focused project has opened for the first time in Rome’s historic center, backed by 8×1000 funds from the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai, which guarantees its management; Flying Tiger Copenhagen, which co-financed renovation costs; and a building, seized from the mafia, made available through the commitment of Municipio 1 in Rome.
The facility, launched this summer, can house up to three LGBT+ individuals, semi-independently, who have faced violence and discrimination, and now reside in Rome’s center for the first time.
“Every year, through the Gay Help Line 800 713 713, we receive hundreds of requests for help from LGBT+ people, mainly young people, who suffer violence within their families and need a safe place to take refuge. The opening of Refuge Co-Housing LGBT+ this summer has significantly expanded our LGBT+ Refuge Network, allowing us to welcome more than 140 people since 2016. This facility is specifically dedicated to those who have overcome the most traumatic phases and are ready to begin a path toward independence. Refuge Co-Housing LGBT+ offers them the opportunity to pursue specialist or post-secondary education, which these individuals might not otherwise manage alone, aiming to secure better job opportunities and overcome the discrimination that LGBT+ people face in the workforce. This achievement has been made possible thanks to the valuable support of our partners,” says Marina Marini, Head of the LGBT+ Refuge Network.
“As Soka Gakkai members, we firmly believe that the true dignity of each person is realized only by eliminating all forms of discrimination and prejudice. Supporting the Refuge Co-Housing LGBT+ project is a concrete commitment for us to guarantee safe spaces and real protections where LGBT+ young people can regain hope and build a future free from fear, fully expressing their potential,” stated Anna Conti, Vice President of the Italian Buddhist Institute Soka Gakkai.
“In Italy, we are still far behind in offering support to victims of homophobic, transphobic, and biphobic violence, who are often victims of family violence and lack a safe place to go. For this reason, as Municipio 1 of Rome, we decided to dedicate this house, seized from the mafia, to supporting the LGBT+ community. This service complements a help desk we have dedicated to LGBT+ people, which demonstrates our Municipio’s commitment to being at the forefront of LGBT+ rights,” say Lorenza Bonaccorsi, President of Municipio 1, and Claudia Santoloce, Equal Opportunities Councillor for Municipio 1.
Below are statements from the first residents of Refuge Co-Housing LGBT+.
Mario (a 24-year-old transgender man):
Being hosted by Refuge Co-Housing LGBT+ is, first and foremost, a source of reassurance. Here, I can live without the constant fear of an uncertain future. Finally, I can stop drowning in doubts and start believing in my dreams, even if they’re small, like finding a peaceful place. A place where I don’t always have to think about how to survive or protect myself from people who hurt me to feel better about themselves. Here, I realized that there truly are people who want to help me and give me the chance to shape a better future. For me, that is precious. Refuge LGBT+ represents a challenge, too: it’s an attempt to take my life back and become independent, despite the difficulties.
Jacopo (a 20-year-old gay man):
For me, Refuge LGBT+ was a second chance at life. At 17, I experienced violence and discrimination at home because I’m gay, and I felt lost, as if the world had turned its back on me. Moving into this group home meant not only having a roof over my head but, most importantly, receiving affection, which is what matters most. Here, I found people who accepted me for who I am and let me grow without the fear of violence or judgment. Thanks to Refuge LGBT+ support, I graduated, and now I’m pursuing my dreams, thanks to Refuge Co-Housing LGBT+ which enables me to study at university. Even though I work part-time, I can count on the group home, allowing me to dedicate many hours to studying, something I couldn’t do otherwise. Here, I found the freedom to build my future with love and understanding.