More than ‘Just a Bed’

Happy Pride!
We’re honored to share that QNEST was recently featured in Boston Spirit Magazine, highlighting our mission to support LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts.
Below is the full article, which captures the heart of our work and why it matters now more than ever.

When Sarela Bliman-Cohen’s son came out as gay, it was never a question of acceptance. “We always loved him exactly the way he was,” she says. “It didn’t even cross our minds that a parent wouldn’t.” Not every child is so lucky, and not every parent is so accepting. Over time, as she volunteered at Boston’s St. Francis House, a day shelter for people experiencing homelessness, Bliman-Cohen began learning more about the harrowing realities that face many LGBTQ+ youth. She heard stories of teenagers being kicked out of their homes, of young people trading sex for a place to sleep, of alarming rates of suicide attempts among LGBTQ+ minors without a stable home. “As a parent, I just couldn’t understand it,” she says. “I had to do something.”
That “something” became QNEST — Queers Never Experiencing Shame or Trauma — a new nonprofit Bliman-Cohen launched in 2024 with the goal of creating long-term, affirming housing for homeless LGBTQ+ youth in Massachusetts. With decades of experience in high-tech product management, Bliman-Cohen is treating QNEST like a startup, complete with market research, a business plan and strategic mentorship. But what drives her isn’t profit — it’s urgency.
The numbers speak volumes: about 40 percent of the youth experiencing homelessness in the United States identify as LGBTQ, according to recent stats, which is dramatically disproportionate. Family rejection, abuse and lack of support, particularly for transgender youth, all play a role. And yet, Bliman-Cohen is only aware of two long-term housing options in Massachusetts that exist specifically for LGBTQ+ youth: the Gandara Pride House in Northampton and the Waltham House outside Boston. Combined, they offer just 18 beds.
After talking to organizations across the state, Bliman-Cohen realized that while there was deep need, there was little movement toward expanding resources. In fact, some folks she’s spoken to have suggested that they simply don’t see the need for LGBTQ-specific housing, arguing that queer youth could be integrated into general at-risk housing programs. She strongly disagrees. “A lot of these kids come from experiences with bullying and trauma,” Bliman-Cohen says. “There’s power in numbers. They may feel safer and more comfortable with others like themselves.”
That understanding is central to QNEST’s vision: a group home model that offers more than just a bed. Bliman-Cohen’s ultimate goal is to build multiple residential facilities where LGBTQ+ minors can live in a family-like environment with around-the clock support, access to mental health resources, educational opportunities and a real sense of community. She imagines these spaces as being akin to dorms with “house parents” and counselors. In these places, youth could find shelter and affirming care through high school, perhaps, or as they transition to college or the workforce to “break the cycle” of homelessness.
Right now, Bliman-Cohen is working to raise $1 million to open the first home, which would house up to 12 youth. “I started by reaching out to friends and family,” she says. “Now I’m looking for angel investors and seed grants.” She’s also assembling a board, trying to convene a team of people who can bring their passion and skills, from parents of queer kids to those with backgrounds in youth homelessness, fundraising, media and social work.
While this first residential house remains in the works, Bliman-Cohen is determined to start making an impact as soon as possible. She’s currently planning a peer support group specifically for LGBTQ+ homeless youth — an interim step that could provide critical community and mental health support while longer-term solutions are developed. Bliman-Cohen is careful to emphasize that she doesn’t want to duplicate services that already exist or compete with established organizations. Instead, she hopes to collaborate with existing groups that support LGBTQ+ youth in various ways. That’s part of being a good ally, something she’s learned from her son.
“He reminds me of the things I might miss as someone who’s straight,” she says. “Like how important terminology is, or how trauma plays such a big role in these kids’ lives.”
It’s all keeping her motivated to turn her big plans for QNEST, and for helping LGBTQ+ homeless youth, into reality. “This is my mountain,” she says. “I’m climbing it one step at a time.”