The holiday season is in full swing, with the city awash in lights and the scent of Christmas trees drifting from every corner. While this time of year brings joy for some, it can be a difficult period for many, particularly those in our community navigating food scarcity and housing instability on these cold, dark days. Please take this as a gentle call to action to think of your friends, neighbors, and those whose lives may intersect with yours in the most routine settings.

If you have the chance to bring warmth and cheer, through even the smallest gesture, please do. Too many of our clients carry the weight of the world on their young shoulders, and those small acts of generosity carry tremendous meaning.

We are entering 2026 battle-tested, stronger, and more resolved than ever before. Let's continue to be that spark, bringing everything we can to protect queer and trans youth.

If you have the means to support our work, please do.

About the Free to be Youth Project

Founded in 1994, the Free to be Youth Project is the only legal services program in the nation targeted to low-income and homeless LGBTQ+ youth. We believe all young people should have life’s basic necessities: a place to live, a source of support, and legal immigration status.

We collaborate with community-based organizations to conduct intakes in spaces queer youth frequently congregate for community and resources. This trauma-informed approach cultivates safety and trust within attorney-client relationships as they navigate immigration, name and gender marker changes, public benefits, housing and shelter advocacy, and more.

Through our comprehensive know-your-rights workshops and client empowerment initiatives, we utilize a proactive community education model to replace cycles of poverty with those of queer strength, resistance, and joy. By addressing both the immediate legal needs and long-term empowerment of LGBTQIA+ youth, the Free to Be Youth Project fosters a supportive, affirming environment where young people can heal, thrive, and build a future of possibility and pride.

End of Year Giving 2025

By Free to Be Youth Project at UJC

End of Year Giving 2025

Be That Spark this Holiday Season