Full Spectrum Community Outreach's annual winter gala HELPS the Youngstown-based organization to serve the area's LGBTQ community year-round.

A tradition of reflection and celebration, set the stage for Saturday night's headlining announcement. 

"We will officially be opening as an overnight homeless shelter on March 16. We'll be operating from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. for overnight emergency stays," said Nikki Crawford, the shelter operations manager.

Crawford tells 21 News there is no other resource like this available for members of the LGBTQ community in the state of Ohio. There will be 8 beds between two rooms to start.

"We are planning to expand as we get more resources, volunteers and different things like that to go into a two-day stay, all the way to goal of a 30-day stay for all of our residents," said Crawford.

Board members tell me the financial strain people are dealing with, and the harsh winter have only stressed the need for a resource like this. They say the trifecta of resources, volunteers and funds are in place to make it happen.

"Everyone needs a place to stay, a warm bed at night and we're fulfilling that for our community who often times are turned away from other places," said Katie Coriston, outreach operations manager.

The shelter will share the same location as the outreach community center on West Earle Avenue. Meals and showers will also be provided for overnight stays as well.

"Now we can make sure that individuals do not have to choose between who they want to be and the safety of where they stay at night," said Crawford.