{"id":3096,"date":"2025-05-07T12:36:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T10:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medialatitudes.be\/en\/?p=3096"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:52:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T11:52:44","slug":"le-refuge-in-brussels-a-shelter-for-lgbtqia-youth-rejected-by-their-families","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medialatitudes.be\/en\/le-refuge-in-brussels-a-shelter-for-lgbtqia-youth-rejected-by-their-families\/","title":{"rendered":"Le Refuge in Brussels: a shelter for LGBTQIA+ youth rejected by their families"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hana (pseudonym) was 12 when she became aware of her homosexuality. However, she never shared this with her family. Since she was raised by strict and conservative parents, the young girl dreaded their reaction.<\/p>\n

Her mental health deteriorated. The idea of leaving crossed her mind, but Hana was quickly brought back to reality: \u2018I was 18, so I was legally allowed to leave, but what type of life would I have had? I had no money, no income. There was a high chance I would have ended up homeless,\u2019 she explains.<\/p>\n

While searching for a solution through the associative community, the young girl learns about the existence of emergency accommodation for LGBTQIA+ people. In 2024, Hana eventually took the leap: she left her home in hopes of finally being able to live her life fully.<\/p>\n

Although Belgium, with its progressive laws, is often considered a welcoming place for the LGBTQIA+ community, it sometimes remains a place of exclusion for some of its own citizens. Hana\u2019s story reflects that of other families: teenagers rejected because of their identity, victims of violence, threatened with forced marriage, etc. They must sometimes flee from their homes for their own safety.<\/p>\n

At the LGBTQIA+ shelter \u2018Opvanghuis\u2019* in Brussels, these people have received support since 2018. \u2018They come from across the country, have different cultures, different religions\u2026 We welcome as many girls as boys\u2019, explains Corentin Peyraud, one of the shelter\u2019s five psychosocial coordinators. Marc Van den Bossche, communication and awareness officer, explains that the organisation \u2018generally exclusively takes in young people ranging from 18 to 25 years old, whose paperwork is in order.\u2019<\/p>\n

The shelter also runs another facility, called \u201cLe CADAL\u201d, specifically for LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers.<\/p>\n

\u2018We try to guide them towards complete independence by providing administrative, legal and social support.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

The organisation offers multiple emergency housing facilities for young people in precarious situations. Hana stayed at Maison Alan Turing<\/em> for several months. The address is anonymous to ensure the residents\u2019 safety. The building, which was renovated in 2024, can accommodate up to 14 people on four floors. It\u2019s similar to a large shared flat. \u2018The goal is really to be a place where they can all bounce back and regain autonomy\u2019, explains Marc Van de Bossche. \u2018Firstly, we offer them a safe place where they can regain some control over their environment and their lives. Then, little by little, with the help of the psychosocial team, we try to guide them towards total independence, offering them administrative, legal and social support,\u2019 he adds.<\/p>\n

While similar facilities exist in Charleroi and Li\u00e8ge, no shelters are currently available in Flanders.<\/p>\n

Young people stay on average between 3 and 10 months at the shelter.<\/em><\/p>\n

A community at risk<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is true that without places like this, young people deprived of material and financial support would be at high risk of falling into precarious situations. But they mainly arrive at the shelter in a state of psychological distress. \u2018It\u2019s very hard for these individuals because they lose all their bearings. They also feel conflicted about how they may feel about their parents \u2013 since they still share family bonds \u2013 and how they feel about themselves\u2019, says Corentin Peyraud, the shelter\u2019s psycho-social coordinator.<\/p>\n

Hana suffered particularly from this inner conflict: since she was diagnosed with severe depression at 15 years old, she had to be hospitalised multiple times after suicide attempts.<\/p>\n

\u2018Sometimes it feels like things are evolving, but when working here, we notice that mindsets don\u2019t evolve at the same pace.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Already vulnerable, these young people\u2019s distress is amplified by the queerphobic discrimination and violence they go through outside the family circle. Cyberbullying, harassment\u2026The shelter has seen it all: \u2018Sometimes it feels like things are evolving, but through our work here, we notice that mindsets don\u2019t evolve at the same pace,\u2019 he observes.<\/p>\n

According to the figures presented by Unia<\/em>, it\u2019s actually the opposite: in 2023, the former Centre for Equal Opportunities and Opposition to Racism closed a record number of hate crime cases related to sexual orientation.<\/p>\n

Towards a greater peace of mind<\/p>\n

The rules at the shelter are simple: listen and give advice, without judgement. Marc Van den Bossche explains: \u2018We don\u2019t provide treatment here, but we do assist them in making appointments with a therapist or a psychiatrist.\u2019 Psychosocial counsellors and volunteers also organise dinners and activities. \u2018We try to keep their minds busy. It\u2019s not a solution, but it\u2019s a first step toward peace of mind,\u2019 says Corentin Peyraud.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"

Even though Hana\u2019s departure from home was complicated, her parents did not try to make her come back. \u00a9 Louise Pinchart<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018We have to be trained on a whole range of subjects\u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Marc Van den Bossche admits: \u2018Not many people understand the use for this kind of place, or they don\u2019t understand why it\u2019s strictly intended for young LGBTQIA+ people.\u2019 Le Refuge considers it necessary due to the unique needs of these young LGBTQIA+ individuals.<\/p>\n

Providing help requires counsellors to be trained in a variety of areas that other shelters typically cannot focus on. It is, for example, very important not to misgender them, to properly support those who are transitioning and to have knowledge about STIs (editor\u2019s note: sexually transmitted infections),\u2019 explains Corentin Peyraud.<\/p>\n

\u2018I grew up thinking I was alone (\u2026), I was wrong: there are lots of us, we are just hiding.\u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The abuse that certain young people suffer within their families can sometimes be echoed in conventional support services. \u2018I knew a young person who, before coming here, had first been in a closed center. He was harassed there daily. He endured insults, violence, … It\u2019s something he won\u2019t experience here, surrounded by people who have experienced the same things,\u2019 says Corentin Peyraud.<\/p>\n

Le Refuge<\/em> also advocates for the positive impact a supportive peer environment can have on the well-being of these young people. Hana shares her experience: \u2018I\u2019ve met many wonderful people here, who made me realise that I\u2019m not alone, and that feels amazing. I am Belgian with Moroccan roots, and homosexuality is strongly frowned upon in our culture. I grew up thinking I was alone, but I was wrong: there are plenty of us, we are just hiding.\u2019<\/p>\n

Growing demand<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hana now lives in a small studio in Brussels that she found with the help of the shelter. \u2018Now that I have my own place, my girlfriend always comes over, and it\u2019s really nice: we go out, we have fun, and sometimes we do serious things,\u2019 says the 20-year-old. Hana also has many plans, like going to Valencia for Erasmus or going on vacation this summer with her girlfriend.<\/p>\n

Le Refuge<\/em> is less optimistic for the future. With a growing demand for accommodation, the organisation struggles to meet everyone\u2019s needs. It is sometimes forced to put certain people on a waiting list.<\/p>\n

Both financial and human resources are running short. \u2018We would like to hire a therapist or set up a helpline like Le<\/em> Refuge<\/em> in France, but it\u2019s impossible at the moment,\u2019 explains Marc Van den Bossche. To ensure its autonomy, Le Refuge<\/em> \u2013 currently mainly funded by the COCOM (editor\u2019s note: the cross-community body responsible for health and social policy in Brussels) \u2013 is looking to raise more private funds. \u2018Much remains to be done, but we have already made some progress,\u2019 concludes Marc Van den Bossche.<\/p>\n

An observation that reflects Belgian society, which is becoming increasingly inclusive, but where being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community still presents many challenges.<\/p>\n

*: The Refuge LGBTQIA+ Opvanghuis<\/em> has no structural link nor shared resources with the Refuge in France.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Post-edited translation by Nour Ayari (M1 student in translation at ULB) under the supervision of Sonja Janssens<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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