Courage+ Launches Powerful Street Installation to Highlight LGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness in Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE, WI, May 27th – Courage+, Wisconsin’s first and only licensed provider of LGBTQ+ youth housing, has launched a citywide street installation called Unsheltered to spark conversations about the unseen crisis of LGBTQ+ youth homelessness.
The campaign features cardboard bed installations throughout Milwaukee’s streets to represent the estimated 4.2M teens across the country that face house instability each year, 40% of whom identify as LGBTQ+ youth. The installations underscore a devastating reality: far too many LGBTQ+ youth are forced to sleep on the streets, in shelters or in unsafe environments due to rejection, systemic failures or lack of affirming support.
“Most people picture adults when they think of homelessness in America, but LGBTQ+ youth—some as young as 12—are among the most at risk. At Courage+, our mission is to provide youth understanding and belonging,” said Brad Schlaikowski, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Courage+. “These installations are designed to interrupt daily routines and demand attention to this crisis that too often goes unseen.”
Courage+ provides safe, affirming housing and wraparound support for LGBTQ+ youth ages 12-24 through Courage House, C2 Apartments and additional trauma-informed programs. The organization offers more than shelter—it provides stability, acceptance and a path toward independent, empowered lives. Their work supports LGBTQ+ youth ages 12–24, helping them live as their authentic selves and build lives grounded in safety, connection and community.
“Every day we look to turn internal safe spaces into external brave spaces. This is a mission that must span across the country, not just our state. Through this campaign we hope to inspire broader awareness, action and resourcing to address the nationwide crisis of LGBTQ+ youth homelessness.”
Utilizing agency of record Bader Rutter, Courage+ partnered with the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design’s (MIAD) Community Partnership Program to bring each installation to life, enlisting local artists to transform the beds into powerful visual narratives. Each bed is uniquely designed to reflect the imagined personality of an unseen child. Lillith Forsythe, a printmaker and papermaker, evokes genderless freedom through imagery of native Wisconsin flora and fauna to showcase the outdoors’ dual nature: a playground for some, a refuge denied to others. And Jo Willis, a transdisciplinary artist, crafts a tribute to trans teens through objects of self-discovery and transformation—symbols of the safe spaces every child deserves. These artists bring depth, empathy and personal truth to each bed, transforming cardboard into a platform for both art and advocacy.
Each cardboard bed includes a QR code linking directly to Courage+’s donation portal, making it easy for passersby to turn compassion into action. Donations directly fund crisis stabilization, affirming housing, education support, and services that help young people heal, grow and thrive.
How You Can Help:
• Donate today to help LGBTQ+ youth
• Visit the installations, located at Lakefront Brewery, Colectivo Lakefront, Cathedral Square Park and Catalano Square Park, and share on social media using #Courage+
• Learn more about Courage+ and Unsheltered.
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