A young person from another country was in Canada on a student visa, their visa ran out, they lost their job and they feared being sent home to their home country.
Why?
Because this young person identified as a member of the LGBTQ2S+ Community.
They shared their parents, friends, and family and would not approve of them being openly out. They shared that even though it is legal now in their country, violence still occurs frequently against members of the LGBTQ2S+ Community.
And they are worried that they would not be safe there.
The young person has stayed at CHV for some time and has been connected to an immigration lawyer, connected with QMUNITY an LGBTQ2S+ resource, and takes free online classes while they work on their refugee claim status with their lawyer.
This young person was alone, afraid, had no supports but saw Canada and Covenant House as a place where they felt safe. Their hope is to stay in Vancouver, work, and become an active member of society as the person they were born to be, and be an out and proud member of the LGBTQ2S+ Community.