finally tonight an organization founded decades ago to support people living with HIV AIDS is serving a new Purpose with a similar Mission Edge NJ is now extending its services to the lgbtq plus Community it's the only pride and Wellness Center in moris County offering Health Care help with housing and behavioral needs Services Advocates say are severely lacking for the population this week the office officially opened its doors after reloc to a new location and our senior correspondent Joanna Gagis was there my kid came out uh during the pandemic and uh they were flourishing in their personality until we ended up going back to school we uh encountered a lot of bullying because they were lgbtq and I needed to find resources Maria chakon and her child found that Solace and support at a nonprofit in Morris County called Edge which stands for indiscrimination G inequality they're like so many of the people and families who come here they're looking for a place to feel included they're looking for a place to be represented and not feel different um they're looking for a space where they can have community and that's exactly what Edge offers says its coo Joanne mcinery it started in 1994 serving individuals with HIV but transitioned a few years ago to also serve the needs of the lgbtq community we also see a lot of people who are facing social determinant of Health adults a lack of access access to housing lack of access to Transportation Health Care uh Mental Health Services they have a housing program for young people ages 18 to 24 who find themselves homeless either because of discrimination or because they've been kicked out of their parents' home and they have a number of programs geared specifically to young people ages 13 to 18 we provide low to no cost Counseling Services compassion a listening ear a space where they can feel safe and brave um patient and non-judgment that's all it takes right that it doesn't take more than that to be able to see the the change the life change that takes for these people once they are connected to care their licensed clinicians accept Insurance part of the reason why they have a 44 person weight list right now for people seeking mental health care and we have support groups as well use support groups um we do a lot of linkage to affirming Medical Care 6 months ago Edge had to vacate their office space forcing them to go remote with of their services they just moved into this new space in pipany a week ago and are excited to bring back all of their in-person services like counseling and peer support groups we just had our first game night last night and um we had you know a mixture of Youth and and long-standing members who were so happy to be here they even wanted to record a video to send to you know some of our higher ups here just to show um their gratefulness that the space is open again you know being remote um in between spaces and I think that was tough on some of our members because Edge New Jersey is one of the only safe spaces for them to come and be a part of a community and yet even with the needs so great other lgbtq organizations like can a medical service provider have recently closed their doors only adding to the demand for support services from Edge we know that when we don't provide the youth the services they need they're faced with all too tragic outcomes uh we lost one of our youth a year ago and um it was horrible and you know this could be prevented if there were more services available to our young people and alarming 41% of lgbtq Youth considered attempting suicide so for chakon having this Edge support for her child is lifechanging if there is anything going on the clinician alerts me and we start working on um how do we resolve it how do we best support it for me this is a very good place to be they're holding their first in-person support group tonight in the new space br bringing back that support that so many have been missing in parcion I'm Joanna Gagis NJ Spotlight News NJ Spotlight News NJ Spotlight News