Courtesy Encircle

It’s been five years since Stephenie Larsen and a handful of backers and stakeholders, bought their first Encircle house in Provo.

The Provo home opened on Valentine’s Day 2017. Since then, Encircle homes have sprung up throughout Utah and the surrounding states.

Encircle announced in October 2021 it had successfully completed its “$8 Million, 8 Houses” Campaign, opened its new Sustainability Fund and announced the first of what they hope will be many Encircle Cafés.

According to Larsen, the founder and CEO, the donations will actually build or purchase nine homes.

On Wednesday, Encircle announced that its next location will be in Rexburg, Idaho. The Rexburg home will be located at 113 S Center St. in the city — walking distance from the BYU-Idaho campus. Encircle is currently working with the city to secure necessary approvals and hopes to start construction as soon as possible. The goal is to complete the home and begin offering services in early 2023.

Courtesy Encircle

In fact, most homes are within walking distance of an LDS Church owned university or temple. Encircle supports families on what can be a very painful journey.

“I was so excited to hear that Encircle is opening a home in Rexburg,” said Alex Guerrero, former student at BYU-Idaho and current volunteer at Encircle. “I graduated from BYU-Idaho two years ago and coming to terms with my sexuality and gender identity while I was there was extremely difficult. It was hard to find LGBTQ+ friendly therapists and a supportive community. I felt very lonely at times but I was able to find other queer friends and allies who were kind to me, listened to me and encouraged me to be myself. This new home in Rexburg will allow other people to make those same connections and have a place to feel safe.”

The home will be centrally located to provide easy access to Encircle’s therapy, programming and services to LGBTQ+ youth, students and families.

“The timing is right for Encircle to join the Rexburg community, and we believe the community is ready to have us,” Larsen said. “We’ve made great progress in Utah and have had a positive experience working with the Utah community and BYU at our Provo and Salt Lake City locations. We hope to emulate this success with the community in Rexburg and build a positive relationship with the community and with BYU-Idaho that will help build bridges for LGBTQ+ youth and create a thriving community.”

The original home is one block south of the Provo City Center Temple, only a post office and small parking lot divide the two buildings. Just as the temple is intended to bring families together, Larsen hopes that all new Encircle homes will bring LGBTQ youth and their families together.

Courtesy Andy Gorstein

Encircle’s mission is to bring family and community together to enable LGBTQ+ youth to thrive. This new home is part of the non-profit’s nationwide expansion with the goal of spreading the message of “No Sides, Only Love” across the country.

Larsen said if people don’t think there is a need for these homes, or that they are not being used, she has data to show otherwise. Each Encircle home has seen at least 10,000 individuals in 2021, but they counted over 100,000 individuals utilizing services and finding a place of safety in their facilities.

“The Provo home is so busy we are having to build on three new therapy rooms and a gathering area,” Larsen said.

She added that the space is needed because so many parents have started finding help as well. In fact, parents are the biggest part of it.

“Once the parents are on board, the kids are,” Larsen said. “We try to model an inclusive, loving home.”

Sammy Jo Hester, Daily Herald file photo

Larsen said the first people to show up at the Provo house were from Brigham Young University — professors and students and students training to be therapists. Clinical therapists get rotational hours there and Larsen expects the same to be true in Rexburg.

According to the 2020 U.S. Census, 24.4% of the population of Rexburg is under the age of 18, and with a Gallup Poll showing that 20.8% of the Generation Z reporting as LGBTQ, the Rexburg community is in need of additional resources to support LGBTQ youth, Larsen noted. That number is also reflective of youth in the LDS Church. One out of five people between the ages of 16 and 25 say they are part of the LGBTQ community.

In addition, 68% of LGBTQ students in Idaho experienced at least one form of anti-LGBTQ discrimination at school, according to research from 2019. Encircle will partner with other LGBTQ+ allies in the state to provide critical resources for youth and their families, and work to change the culture of negativity towards those who identify as LGBTQ+, Larsen added.

As Encircle continues on this path of expansion, its top priority remains to build community, acceptance and understanding for LGBTQ+ youth and their families.

Other Encircle homes that are either open currently or will open sometime this year includes homes in: Salt Lake City, St. George, Las Vegas, Heber (opening in July), Ogden and Logan (opening by November). They anticipate expanding into Arizona, more in Nevada, Idaho and Utah.

More information about Encircle can be found at http://encircletogether.org.

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