Mahoning Valley - Full Spectrum Community Outreach is preparing to open the state's only LGBTQ+ homeless shelter in the state.

“People are going to be using us as a model to show what's working, what's not. Everyone's going to be keeping a close eye on it. So we have to be even better than our best,” said Katie Coriston, operations manager for Full Spectrum Community Outreach.

In addition to food, safety and a roof over their head, Full Spectrum promises to provide “safe, affirming and trauma-informed housing in an environment where their identities are respected and celebrated.”

The shelter will start with only four beds, but there are plans to double the shelter's size within six months.

“We want to start off slow, make sure that we're, you know, going through everything, doing everything, right? But then eight beds within six months of opening, like, five or 10 years out, we have plans on going to another building, but that's very far in advance, and we got to focus on right here and now,” said Coriston.”We don't want to grow too fast and not make it sustainable. We want to, again, do things the right way.”

Full Spectrum has already received multiple phone calls from people across Ohio. Their hope is to continue expanding the homeless shelter to meet the need.

“It's very hard to turn people away that are in need, so we're really having to reevaluate what our process will be, what resources we can help with, even from across the state,” said Coriston.

The opening is expected to be in March. Anyone who is in need of the homeless shelter will need to sign up, and go through the referral process. 

Full Spectrum will also continue holding monthly peer support groups, food pantries, showers, laundry service and community events.

“We also have the Closet of Change and a food pantry. The pantry has food of course. The closet of change has lots of gender firming items as well as toiletries and personal hygiene products,” said Winter Burgess, Client care organizer for Full Spectrum Community Outreach.

The organization is also asking for monetary donations and volunteers.