About
A welcoming space for LGBTQI2S youth.
Friends of Ruby is dedicated to the journey and well-being of LGBTQI2S youth through mental health services, social services, and housing.
Our services are led and facilitated by LGBTQI2S individuals, informed by LGBTQI2S youth, and grounded in evidence and research.
Friends of Ruby, formerly Egale Youth Services, was founded by Egale Canada to address the housing, social and mental health services and needs of LGBTQI2S youth. In 2019, Friends of Ruby officially became its own registered charity, and expanded its mental health, social and housing services.
Our Impact
Friends of Ruby addresses these needs by providing support through drop-in services to LGBTQI2S youth aged 16-29, providing mental health supports through crisis appointments and counselling in-person and by phone, chat, and/or virtual conference. Our case managers provide support with multiple practical needs such as education, employment, settlement, etc., all told supporting over 450 youth per year.
The need is real:
35% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQI2S
63% of LGBTQI2S youth reported acts of self-harm in the past 12 months
55% of LGBTQI2S youth have not accessed a LGBTQI2S support in their geographic community.
30% of trans youth are rejected from shelters due to their gender identity and expression.
Friends of Ruby Home is our new transitional home in Toronto, opened for occupancy in December 2020, that provides housing, wrap-around support, and mental health support for 33 LGBTQI2S youth, aged 16-29, who are often fleeing unsafe or precarious home environments. The space was designed, after comprehensive consultation with youth from the LGBTQI2S community, to provide a warm welcoming space that best meets the needs of this diverse community and to facilitate the varied needs of each resident’s personal journey of support. The facility is accessible, energy efficient and pet-friendly.
