A safe, affirming home when home isn't safe.
Casa Q’s safe house is for LGBTQ+ , BIPOC, and Ally teens 14–17 who can’t stay where they are. We provide long-term structured care, school support, and a chosen-family environment built on trauma-informed practice.
Who we serve
- LGBTQ+ teens ages 14–17
- Youth experiencing family rejection or unsafe housing
- Referrals from CYFD, schools, family, or self-referral
- New Mexico residents (priority on Albuquerque & Santa Fe)
What the Casa Q Group House is.
Our safe house is a real home — not an institution. Teens have their own space, share meals, and live in a structured environment with trained, affirming staff who actually get it.
Casa Q’s 5-bedroom youth residential living space is licensed by the state’s Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) as a Multi-Service Home to serve up to 8 residents at a time. There is very limited housing for homeless youth in our community, and no other housing program is specifically designed to support BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth. Our licensing allows both long-term and short-term stays at the underage transitional living house which gives us the flexibility to respond to all needs.
We pair daily structure (school, chores, therapy, meals together) with the freedom to be a teenager — including the freedom to be openly LGBTQ+ without explanation or apology.
Most residents stay with us while longer-term plans take shape: reunification when it’s safe, transition to a kinship or foster placement, or — when they turn 18 — graduation into a Transitional Living Program. The average stay at the shelter is 6 to 9 months.
What we provide
Wraparound care for the whole young person — not just a bed.
Safe housing
Private & shared bedrooms in a real home with 24/7 trained, affirming staff.
Daily meals & care
Three meals a day, hygiene supplies, clothing, and transportation.
School support
Tutoring, school enrollment help, and IEP/504 advocacy.
Mental health
Linkages to LGBTQ+ affirming therapy, psychiatry, and crisis support.
Identity affirmation
Name and pronoun respect, gender-affirming care navigation.
Chosen family
Peer connection, adult mentorship, holidays and birthdays celebrated.
Life at Casa Q
What life actually looks like for a teen in the group house.
Wake-up, breakfast together, school transportation, school day with check-ins.
Tutoring or homework hour, therapy or appointments, free time, and snacks.
Group dinner, chores, life-skills sessions (cooking, budgeting, ID prep).
Outings, community events, family time when safe, and movie nights.
How to refer a teen
Anyone can start a referral — a parent, a teacher, a caseworker, or the young person themselves. Here’s what happens next.
Reach out
Fill out the referral form. We respond as soon as possible.
Initial screening
A confidential conversation about needs, history, and fit.
Intake & move-in
If it's a fit, we coordinate move-in and set up the youth's care plan.
Wraparound
Care team meets weekly. Family and referrer stay informed (with consent).
Talk to a real person
Our intake line is staffed Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm Mountain Time.
Help us keep the lights on.
Every donation helps us keep beds warm and doors open for New Mexico’s youth.