Brussels’ Alan Turing House Shelters LGBTQIA+ Youth

In Brussels, Belgium, Le Refuge operates the Maison Alan Turing, offering shelter to young LGBTQIA+ individuals experiencing family rupture. The house provides beds for those aged 18 to 25, prioritizing safety and acceptance of self-identified gender. Gregory Van Bockstaele works as a psychosocial counselor at the house, witnessing daily the distress caused by familial rejection.

The Maison Alan Turing currently offers 14 beds, with new arrivals initially sharing rooms. Le Refuge also runs the CADAL center, assisting LGBTQIA+ asylum seekers fleeing persecution—many from North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Eastern Europe—who often face further violence from members of their own communities within Belgium’s shelters.

While the shelter provides temporary housing for three to six months and helps with social integration, including job training, funding remains a concern. Le Refuge is also spearheading the creation of a European Federation of Queer Shelters, hoping to share best practices and advocate for increased support across the continent.