Denver LGBTQ+ Youth Organization YouthSeen Closes Office After Burglary and Major Funding Losses

YouthSeen, a Denver nonprofit that provides mental health and healing services for queer and transgender youth, has closed its physical office indefinitely after a recent burglary stripped the organization of its emergency cash reserves and deepened an already severe financial strain.

The organization’s staff and leadership say they are now focused on safeguarding their community, stabilizing finances, and shifting to virtual services while they determine how to move forward.

According to a Denver Police Department report, the break-in occurred on a Sunday afternoon at YouthSeen’s office, which is located on the Clayton Early Learning campus near East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard in Denver.

Security footage reviewed by YouthSeen and investigators shows a man prying open a side door, walking through the office, grabbing a safe, and leaving the building within minutes.

Executive director Dr. Tara Jae, who founded YouthSeen in 2017, said the safe contained nearly $10, 000, representing the nonprofit’s entire emergency fund meant to cushion unexpected expenses and crises.

In addition to the safe, the intruder allegedly took a second cash box, an iPad, and the keys and registration to a vehicle used by the organization.

An employee monitoring the building’s security cameras remotely noticed suspicious activity during the incident and triggered an alarm, prompting a swift police response.

Police soon identified a suspect, 58-year-old Stephen Guerra, who was later found driving a stolen Toyota RAV4 that had been reported missing on November 24.

According to an arrest affidavit, officers discovered two damaged and empty cash boxes inside the vehicle, which investigators linked to the YouthSeen burglary.

Denver police say Guerra is being held for investigation of second-degree burglary in connection with the break-in.

Local reporting notes that Guerra has a lengthy criminal history that includes prior convictions such as sexual assault and drug-related charges.

Authorities have not publicly disclosed any motive for the burglary, and there is no confirmed evidence indicating that the crime was driven by bias against LGBTQ+ people.

Dr. Jae told local media that the burglary felt “targeted” because very few people knew about the safe’s existence or its location inside their office.

They described moving through a range of emotions after the break-in, including sadness, anger, and disappointment, while also gaining clarity about the challenges facing organizations that serve marginalized communities.

Jae estimated that beyond the cash stolen, the damage to YouthSeen’s space and property could total between $30, 000 and $40, 000.

The incident occurred amid growing concern over safety at LGBTQ+ centers in Denver. In late October, The Center on Colfax, a prominent LGBTQ+ community hub, reported vandalism and damage to its facility.

Referencing this broader context, Jae said that safety is now “top of mind” for organizations that provide services to LGBTQ+ communities in the region and called on the public to help ensure that these spaces remain protected.

Even before the burglary, YouthSeen was facing major financial challenges, including the loss of approximately $800, 000 in federal funding this year after cuts to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

YouthSeen, which also organizes Black Pride Colorado , had been working with Clayton Early Learning to stay in its space, receiving discounted rent and institutional support during the funding crisis.

Community members stepped up with donations around Thanksgiving, giving the organization some temporary relief and offering hope that the budget gap might be narrowed.

However, the theft of the emergency fund became what Jae described as “the straw that breaks the camel’s back, ” making it impossible to safely and sustainably maintain the building.

Jae explained that the combination of funding losses and the burglary forced YouthSeen to make the decision to close the physical office indefinitely in order to reassess priorities and protect both staff and participants.

They said the organization needs a “hard pause” to determine what is required to keep showing up for community in the way community members are asking.

YouthSeen was founded in 2017 with a mission to provide culturally responsive mental health and wellness services for queer and transgender youth, with particular attention to youth of color and their families.

Since its founding, the organization has expanded to serve young people in 10 states, primarily through virtual and hybrid programs that address mental health, healing, identity affirmation, and community building.

Even as the Denver office closes, YouthSeen leaders say they intend to continue offering services online and working with youth across states, though the exact timeline and scope of future programming remain under review.

Jae emphasized that if the organization welcomes people into any physical space in the future, it must be confident that it can provide a safe environment for LGBTQ+ youth and their families.

The burglary and subsequent closure have sparked concern among advocates and community members who see YouthSeen and Black Pride Colorado as vital lifelines for Black, Brown, queer, and transgender youth in the region.

The incident comes at a time when many LGBTQ+ organizations nationally report increased financial pressures, heightened safety concerns, and growing demand for mental health support, especially among transgender youth and youth of color.

The Advocate reported that YouthSeen’s leadership has framed the closure as a difficult but necessary step to protect their community while they explore new models of support, including remote programming and partnerships.

Local coverage has highlighted calls from Jae and others for greater solidarity and protection for LGBTQ+ spaces, pointing to a pattern of harassment, vandalism, and financial instability affecting queer and transgender-focused groups in Denver and beyond.

Jae has urged supporters and allies to continue contributing financially where possible and to advocate for policies and funding streams that prioritize the safety and sustainability of organizations that center LGBTQ+ youth of color.

For now, YouthSeen’s physical space on the Clayton Early Learning campus remains closed, and the organization is in what Jae has described as a period of reflection and recalibration.

The nonprofit plans to focus on strengthening its virtual presence, maintaining contact with the youth and families it serves, and working with partners to reimagine how best to support queer and transgender youth in Denver and across the country.

Community members and supporters have been encouraged to follow YouthSeen’s official channels, including its website and social media, for updates on programming, safety measures, and opportunities to contribute or volunteer.

For many LGBTQ+ advocates, the YouthSeen burglary underscores both the vulnerability and the resilience of organizations serving queer and transgender youth, especially those centering Black and Brown communities, and has renewed conversations about how to ensure that such spaces remain funded, secure, and accessible.