Ruth Ellis Center, Inc.

Ruth Ellis Center (REC) is named in honor of the life and work of Ruth Ellis, who was respected and loved for her longevity and endurance as one of Detroit’s oldest and proudest African-American lesbians and for her many years of service to all people in need. Ruth was born in 1899 and came out as a lesbian in 1915. Beginning in the 1930s, Ruth provided shelter, physical support, and spiritual affirmation to those whose race, sexual orientation, or both set them apart from the dominant culture. Ruth lived to the age of 101, seeing the Center come to being before her passing in 2000. The work we continue to do at the Ruth Ellis Center is built upon her model of responsibility to oneself and one’s community.  

Over a 22-year history, REC has established a national reputation for quality and innovation in providing trauma-informed services for lesbian, gay, bi-attractional, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ+) young people experiencing homelessness in the child welfare system and/or experiencing barriers to health & wellness. What began as a 500-square-foot safe space in Highland Park, MI has evolved into a multi-faceted organization, operating four facilities spanning Highland Park and Detroit, providing outreach and safety-net services, integrated primary & behavioral health care services and case management, skill-building workshops, HIV prevention programs, and family preservation programming; as well as the operation of the only State licensed and contracted residential foster care program specifically for LGBTQ youth in the Midwest, Ruth’s House located a short drive from the Center in Detroit.

Breaking ground in 2020, the Ruth Ellis Clairmount Center will be the site of the Center’s permanent supportive housing (PSH) program. The 43-unit mixed-used housing development collaborates between the Ruth Ellis Center and Full Circle Communities, a non-profit developer out of Chicago. This program aims to provide long-term housing stability to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness in a setting that is intentionally inclusive of LGBTQ identities. For transgender women of color, housing resources that affirm gender identity are critical to ensuring safety and well-being. 

While the Ruth Ellis Center specializes in providing trauma-informed services for LGBTQ youth and young adults, the PSH program will serve any individual referred through the Detroit Continuum of Care. The Ruth Ellis Clairmount Center will serve as an example of how programs can meet the needs of a community while also honoring the diverse experiences and identities of each individual it serves.

 A range of resources will be offered, including a health & wellness center, providing integrated primary and behavioral health care, as well as case management. 

Ruth Ellis Clairmount Center is slated to open soon, and we have many surprises to share with you all. Check back soon, but in the meantime, enjoy this piece done by our local Fox affiliate.