About Us

JOSHUA HOME: An LGBTQ Safe Haven

The mission of Joshua Home is to End LGBTQ+ youth homelessness by creating Permanent Gender Inclusive Housing solutions, supportive services and programs beginning in the Inland Empire of Southern California.

Joshua Home is designed to service at-risk LGBTQ+ youth ages twelve to seventeen who are homeless, in foster or group homes, or in the foster care or juvenile justice systems. We provide personalized programs for each youth to foster positive self-awareness, academic development and achievement, independent living skills, sustainability and conflict resolution in a safe, stable, empowering and loving home environment.

Of the youth shelters in Southern California few are trained, experienced and/or sympathetic enough to address the specific challenges LGBTQ Youth face when homeless, helpless and alone. There are no widely known permanent homes open to LGBT+ youth in the Inland Empire, or surrounding counties.

Our goal is to make sure every homeless Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning and other young person has a place to call home, where they are taught to embrace and love themselves through the acceptance, guidance and love they receive at Joshua Home.

The Child Welfare League of America reports that LGBT youth are “disproportionately represented” in both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Studies show that approximately 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBT and that well over half of these youth stay on the street because they feel “safer there than living in group or foster homes.” Social workers across the country have long struggled to find foster and adoptive families that can provide LGBT adolescents with the support they need during the transition to young adulthood.

Once our youth get Home they will be given a warm bed, their own storage spaces, personal hygiene products, clothes, shoes, and the much needed love they deserve. During the first two weeks, they will be introduced to a Licensed Therapist and a Licensed Social Worker, as well as an Educational and or Career Adviser. These Support Staff members will help each young person determine the best next step for their lives. Because each of them will be coming from a unique place, programs are tailored based on their individual needs.

Programs will include but are not limited to:

Receiving a High School Diploma or GED

Independent Study Programs

College or Trade School

Job Training

Independent Living Skills

Health Maintenance and Safety

Music and Art Therapy

Family Reconciliation Mediation

Trauma-Based Counseling/Therapy

*Spiritual Guidance (optional)

Sustainability and Environment Preservation/Responsibility

And more

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*Joshua Home: An LGBTQ Safe Haven is not a Faith-based organization

Annette Patterson founded Joshua Home in Spring 2013, as an addition to her work as a counselor, lifestyle health coach, author, and speaker; "Joshua Home has taken on a life of its own", she happily says.

Annette is committed to meeting the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of the men, women, and youth she serves. She helps to undo the damage of years of sexual, physical, mental, and emotional abuse by focusing on the debilitating effects of the neglect, pain, disappointments, and failures of her clients' pasts.

Through her work she reaches out to and embraces the whole person, regardless of their background, race, religious affiliation, financial position or current state of being. Annette's goal is to offer healing, restoration, freedom and life through various programs and services.

Help us Help these children by giving your best gift today!

Joshua Home: An LGBTQ Safe Haven is a California 501(c)(3) Tax Exemept, Nonprofit Corporation, your gift is tax deductible.