Japan opened its first LGBTI safe house in Tokyo this week. Nijiiro House supports LGBTI people who have fallen into homelessness due to their sexuality or gender identity. It also offers support for mental health issues and employment.

The house mainly helps gay and bisexual men as well as trans and non-binary people Yuta Onaga from Nijiiro House told Gay Star News. ‘They are faced with unemployment, serious financial problems, mental health problems, physical or verbal violence from intimate partner and family, and issues relating to HIV’ Yuta Onaga said. He said they work closely with other organizations to help the guest become financially independent.

The safe house raised US$14,000 in crowdfunding to support the house. Nijiiro House also has private funding from independent donors and has a staff of 12.

The LGBTI safe house welcomed its first guest this month. The gay man was being harassed in the workplace. He lost his job and therefore his accommodation. ‘I have a gap in my career and feel very desperate’ he said, according to the safe house’s Facebook post. Read more via Gay Star News