Trans Empowerment Project in TRANSition Addressing TransQueerGNC Homelessness

Trans Empowerment Project in. TRANSition: Addressing Trans/Queer/GNC Homelessness

Trans Empowerment Project Our Mission: Elevating the trans community out of crisis and into empowerment in order to advocate for our own liberation and autonomy. Our Vision: Creating access for the transgender community to vital affirming resources to build community empowerment through relationship building, educational services, advocacy, and direct action.

What we do Active Projects: ● ● ● Young Adult Host Home Network, Community clothing Closet, Cell Phone Assistance, Mentorship Program, Job Search & Resume Assistance, Emergency services- HRT & Name/Gender Change Financial Assistance, Food Delivery, Toiletry Packages, Educational Workshops, & Transition Garments (i. e. binders, gaffs).

TEP’s Southern Roots Originally launched as a local initiative in Knoxville, TN in December 2016, the org kicked off with a clothing drive. TEP now has 38 partnerships with organizations across the U. S. & beyond to end discrimination in the workplace, housing, and helping to provide services such as: ● ● Emergency Shelter/Safe Housing Trans Affirming Employment Financial Assistance Crisis Intervention

Homelessness In The Trans Community 1 -in-5 One in five transgender people in the United States has been discriminated against when seeking a home *Stats from NCTE 1 -in-10 More than one in ten have been evicted from their homes, because of their gender identity

Trans Housing Under Attack As headlines like this dominate our news feeds, we are pushing back by scaling up our impact and asking partners to sign inclusivity pledges.

Transgender Homelessness Ongoing housing discrimination, and transgender homelessness continues to this day due to a lack of education and awareness. “One in five transgender individuals have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives. ” -NCTE Many transgender people are denied housing, and shelter due to their gender identity, and lack of knowledge surrounding how to appropriately serve the transgender population. Education concerning trans issues, safety, and allyship is one of the best ways to expand the services available to the transgender & gnc communities.

Reasons Behind Transgender Homelessness ● Family Rejection ● Displacement From Home/Eviction ● Job Loss/Extended Unemployment ● Discharge/Emancipation From Foster Care ● Incongruent Identity Documents/Non-updated IDs ● Lack of Knowledge of Transgender Individuals Needs

The Reality For Trans Persons of Color “Transgender women and gender-expansive people of color are disproportionately impacted by poverty and experience barriers in accessing food, shelter, employment, healthcare, etc. Over 50% of Black transgender women have experienced homelessness in their lifetime, while 44% of Black transgender women and 46% of Black genderexpansive people live in poverty, compared to 12% of the general population in the United States. ” *Stats According to the NCTE 2015 U. S. Trans Survey.

Host Home & Housing Programs On average, 30% of clients utilizing housing programs identify as LGBT - 26% as LGB and 4% as transgender. Once trans and non-binary people become homeless, they’re more likely to avoid the shelter system than cisgender peers: 48% of cisgender unhoused adults were counted as unsheltered in 2018, states the National Alliance to End Homelessness, compared to 56% of transgender unhoused adults, and more than 80% of non-binary unhoused adults. Housing, social services, case managers, and other professionals need to have a clear understanding of the unique needs, risk factors, and challenges facing transgender, queer, and gender-expansive homeless youth.

Addressing Homelessness TEP is addressing the needs of homeless T/Q/GNC young adults, by creating, maintaining, and growing a national safe housing network of host home sponsors. TEP has partnered with organizations like True Colors Fund, Covenant House, Lost-N-Found Youth, One-N-Ten, Queer-The-Land, Point Source Youth, Youth Villages, among others, to continue to find solutions to youth and young adult homelessness and need for safe housing. TEP is actively pursuing host home sponsors across the nation, to fulfill the needs of our growing client pool. TEP currently has 22 active sponsors, majority of those are within the South.

Meeting Individual Needs TEP partners with Trans Lifeline Microgrants Department for financial assistance for name and gender changes on identity documents such as: ● ● Passport Driver's License and State ID Immigration Documents Tribal IDs Trans Lifeline also offers a hotline by transgender people, for transgender people. US: 877 -565 -8860 https: //translifeline. org/ CAN: 877 -330 -6366

Direct Action TEP sends clothing boxes, toiletry packages, as well as $45 emergency food delivery through a partnership with Instacart grocery delivery service. Clients can apply using our application for assistance, located on our website, to request assistance for: ● ● Emergency Transportation (Greyhound bus pass) Emergency Shelter (Lodging/Partner Program Shelter) Food, Clothes, Shoes, Toiletries Connection to Third Party Resources (Medical/Mental Health Care, Support Groups, Hairstylists, etc. )

Our Process ● Trans/Queer/Gender Non-Conforming folks from the ages of 18 -25 ● In need of safe/affirming temporary housing ● Confidentiality agreement required by all clients and host homes sponsors ● Host homes are vetted to be trans affirming ● Complete background checks on clients and sponsors ● Visit our site to become a host home sponsor or to apply for temporary safe housing

Our Clients 28% of clients are from the south

Client Demographics 39% of our clients are persons of color

Client Living Situations 60. 5% of clients are homeless or in an unstable living situation

Homeless Client Employment Rate 42% of clients are employed, seeking a job, or currently in school

Conclusion Transgender/Non-Binary/Gender-Expansive people face higher incidences of homelessness, and unsafe living situations. TEP is creating solutions to the homeless epidemic in our communities. By initiatives, programs, and community partnerships TEP is bridging the gap between transgender people and the services & resources they need to survive. TEP is creating and maintaining a resource list of safe housing spaces, including shelters, drop-in centers, and retirement homes. As well as, encouraging and supporting affordable housing that is free of bigotry and harassment. By expanding, & growing this outreach we can work together to end youth homelessness in the Trans/Queer/GNC communities.

in. TRANSition Host Home Program

Resources The Williams Institute, UCLA, “Serving Our Youth: Findings from a National Survey of Service Providers Working with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth Who Are Homeless or at Risk of Becoming Homeless. ” williamsinstitute. law. ucla. edu, 2012 http: //williamsinstitute. law. ucla. edu/wp-content/uploads/Durso-Gates-LGBT-Homeless. Youth-Survey-July -2012. pdf. Center for American Progress, “Seeking Shelter: The Experiences and Unmet Needs of LGBT Homeless Youth. ” americanprogress. org, 2013 https: //www. americanprogress. org/wpcontent/uploads/2013/09/LGBTHomeless. Youth. pdf The Williams Institute, UCLA, and the True Colors Fund, “Serving Our Youth: The Needs and Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth Experiencing Homelessness. ” truecolorsfund. org, 2015 https: //truecolorsfund. org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Serving-Our-Youth-June-2015. pdf National LGBTQ Task Force, “Task Force: Homelessness is a Critical Issue for the LGBT Community, ” thetaskforce. org, 2016 http: //www. thetaskforce. org/task-force-homelessness-is-a-critical-issue-for-the-lgbt-community National Alliance to End Homelessness, “Supporting Homeless Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Youth, ” endhomelessness. org, 2011 http: //www. endhomelessness. org/page/-/files/4593_file_trans_onepager_final. pdf True Colors Fund, “Homeless Shelters Will Soon Be Safer for Transgender Folks, ” dev. truecolorsfund. org, 2016

Resources https: //dev. truecolorsfund. org/2016/09/20/homeless-shelters-will-soon-be-safer-for-transgender-folks National Sexual Violence Resource Center, “Youth Sexual Violence Infographic, ” nsvrc. org, 2014 http: //www. nsvrc. org/publications/nsvrcpublications-infographic/homeless-youth-sexual-violence-infographic Center for American Progress, “On the Streets: The Federal Response to Gay and Transgender Homeless Youth. ” cdn. americanprogress. org, 2010 https: //cdn. americanprogress. org/wp-content/uploads/issues/2010/06/pdf/lgbtyouthhomelessness. pdf National Alliance to End Homelessness, “LGBTQ Homeless Youth Fact Sheet. ” safeschoolscoalition. orghttp: //www. safeschoolscoalition. org/LGBTQhomeless. Fact. Sheetby. NAEH. pdf https: //williamsinstitute. law. ucla. edu/wp-content/uploads/Durso-Gates-LGBT-Homeless-Youth-Survey-July 2012. pdf https: //endhomelessness. org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/