An amazing gay couple just opened a group home for queer youth

Brad and Nick Shlaikowski
Photo: TODAY video screenshot

Brad and Nick Shlaikowski, a married couple, are the co-founders of Courage MKE, Wisconsin’s first-ever group home for homeless queer youth who would otherwise be sleeping in state-run homes or the streets.

The married couple have four children together: three from Brad’s previous marriage and Ivy, their adopted daughter who they began fostering in 2015. When the couple started caring for a foster-child named Annette, they realized how badly LGBTQ youth need housing options.

Related: Trump administration will give homeless shelters the right to turn away transgender people

Annette had been kicked out by her biological parents’ home after coming out as lesbian and she didn’t feel welcome at women’s shelters. She’s just one among the 40% of homeless youth that identify as LGBTQ. LGBTQ youth are twice as likely than their straight counterparts to experience homelessness.

“Until we became foster parents, we had no idea how many kids in Milwaukee were not sleeping at their parents’ homes every night,” Brad told TODAY.

“I can’t fathom sleeping behind a dumpster when it’s negative 20 degrees outside,” he continued. “I want them to know that there’s a door they can knock on and get a hot meal and a shower and a soft pillow to sleep on.”

The couple decided to…

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