A 'rainbow refuge' will open in Charleroi by mid-June, announced alderman for Equal Opportunities Alicia Monard on Tuesday at a press conference.
With a capacity of six places, the centre will accommodate LGBTQ youth who have been estranged from their families or have faced violence at home.
Over the last few months, the City of Charleroi and its partners have been working to find a lasting solution for LGBTQ youth in need of shelter. The new solution, the alderman said, will allow these young people to find shelter and also encourage them to become more independent.
The refuge will consist of three two-bedroom apartments. Owned by the City of Charleroi, the properties will be managed by the Relogeas housing association.
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The accommodation is intended to be a temporary 'transit' style accommodation, paired with social support services.
"We want to consider these young people as a whole and consider all the problems that they may encounter, both on gender issues and on those related to their socio-economic, educational, or housing situation," said manager of Relogeas, Anne-Catherine Rizzo.
