December 4, 2020 Every young person deserves a place to call home. “Nearly ten years ago, Egale set out on a mission to build a home for young homeless LGBTQI2S people, and this December, we proudly witnessed the doors open. Although it seems like a long time, little has changed to remove the barriers that young LGBTQI2S people face in school, at home, in the workplace, and in the community. We hope that with supports like this home, young LGBTQI2S people will go on to break down the barriers they have yet to face as we strive to create a truly inclusive Canada and world.” - Helen Kennedy, Executive Director, Egale Canada The journey began in 2012, when Egale published Not Under My Roof, a breakthrough report that measured the demand for supportive housing dedicated specifically to homeless LGBTQ youth in Toronto, and determined their unique needs with respect to housing and skills development. Following the report, we began to take action and the community has been with us every step of the way. From the youth homelessness summit in 2014 to our OUT at Night campaign and more, we are thankful to everyone who has made the opening of this home possible. We’ve included some of our key milestones below and a tribute timeline to acknowledge all of those who have contributed along the way. 2014: Egale proudly opened the doors to Egale Youth Services (now Friends of Ruby), a drop-in and counselling centre for LGBTQI2S youth aged 16-29. 2015: Out At Night, a national fundraising and awareness campaign was held to engage people across Canada on the crises of LGBTQI2S youth homelessness. 2018: Egale established a Housing Advisory Council (which would later become the foundation of the Friends of Ruby Board) to guide the project across the finish line. 2019: Egale proudly announced that Egale Youth Services and Egale Centre would become an independent organization called Friends of Ruby, which would build upon the services established by Egale. Now, in 2020, Friends of Ruby Home (formerly Egale Centre) has opened its doors to LGBTQI2S youth in need of a place to call home. We are incredibly thankful to everyone who has played a role in making this possible. From our donors and partners to the leadership of our Egale Board members, the building of this home for LGBTQI2S young people has truly taken a village. When we come together, we have the power to change lives, and because of the dedication and generosity of our community, countless LGBTQI2S youth will have a chance at a better future. Thank you for making the dream of safe housing for LGBTQI2S youth a reality. The impact of your support for this project cannot be understated. | 
