As a response to a national and local crisis, Proud Haven Inc., was created in 2012, incorporated in Pennsylvania in 2013, and received IRS approval as a 501(c)(3) in 2014. A full board began work in 2015 and Proud Haven opened its first office on Butler Street two years later. Currently, Proud Haven is located at 525 E. Ohio Street on the Pittsburgh’s North Side.
The organization is raising funds and locating resources to sustain YOUr Haven Shelter, a Trans and LGBQIA+ youth-safe shelter for individuals who are 18-30 years old. The mission includes not only providing a safe space, but also emotional support and resources.
Proud Haven works in collaboration with Trans YOUniting to help LGBTQIA+ youth develop the skills they need to live independently and improve their quality of life through the YOUr Haven Shelter, QMNTY Center, and QMNTY Closet.
Proud Haven’s website lists numerous local, regional, and national LGBTQIA+ resources designed to help youth thrive, whether that takes the form of support, information, or a safe place to land. Here are just a few:
Trans YOUniting is a Black Trans led organization focused on connecting Black trans and non-binary people with needed resources, including — but not limited to — help with bills as well as medical, transportation, and/or housing support. TYN is a keystone collaborative partner with Proud Haven and co-runs YOUr Haven Shelter, the QMNTY Center, and the QMNTY Closet.
TransPride Pittsburgh seeks to strengthen existing communities of gender non-conforming, Trans* individuals, as well as create sustainable networks through cooperative educational and social programs and events.
Formerly Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force, Allies for Health + Wellbeing provides comprehensive medical care, supportive human services, and community-based health education for those people living with or at risk of HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections.
The Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA) offers help finding a private attorney who will work for free for low-income individuals who have legal issues that are not covered by traditional legal aid.
If you are a youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability, please visit the Proud Haven website at proudhaven.org and choose “Resources” at the top of the page. For immediate housing assistance, connect with Allegheny Link.
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