The Broadway Youth Center (BYC) is exiting its current home and temporarily relocating to an LGBT-affirming church in Lakeview.
Howard Brown Health Center (HBHC) has announced that BYC will vacate its office at 3179 N. Broadway Dec. 12. It will resume services at Broadway United Methodist Church (BUMC) Dec. 17.
Talk of a BYC move had been circulating for years, in part because its current offices are not wheelchair accessible. News of a new home for BYC had been anticipated. However, HBHC announced Dec. 4 that BYC will temporarily relocate and reopen with reduced hours.
Alonzo Brown, spokesperson for HBHC, said that BYC had simply outgrown the space and needed a larger office. HBHC is working to secure a permanent home for BYC, the details of which have yet to be announced.
"We have some options," Brown said. "We plan to be in a permanent location May 1."
According to an HBHC statement, BYC will operate on a revised schedule of services Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
BYC is currently open Monday-Friday 1-8 p.m., according to its website. Under the revised scheduled, most services will be offered from noon until approximately 5-6 p.m.
Services will be offered out of both BUMC and HBHC's Lakeview offices, located at the corner of Sheridan Road and Broadway.
BUMC is accustomed to offering LGBTQ youth services. It currently hosts the Youth Lounge, a biweekly program that primarily services LGBTQ street-based youth. BUMC also scrambled to provide youth with services over the summer when The Crib, The Night Ministry's LGBT-friendly shelter, closed temporarily.
Additionally, BUMC hosts Sunday the worship services of LGBT Catholic group Dignity Chicago.
Lara Brooks, director of BYC, said in a statement that the collaboration with BYC will allow the organization to continue with as few disruptions as possible.
"The Broadway Youth Center is committed to providing LGBT youth and youth experiencing housing instability with access to quality health and supportive services during this transitional time," said Brooks in the HBHC statement.