>> Let’s go places.
>> Unemployment the need for
adequate housing health and
mental care the covid pandemic
widening the gaps and barriers
that exists for Houston’s trans
community. Members are often
overlooked and discriminated
against in ways that have made
him more vulnerable in this
afternoon, stronger Houston, how local nonprofits and
how local nonprofits and
advocacy groups are working
harder than ever to bridge the
divide.
>> 6 months ago meal Porter hit
rock bottom. I lost my mind.
Coping with the deaths of 3
loved ones and the end of her
marriage. While financially
supporting her family and
facing eviction the mounting
pressure of it all pushed past
her breaking point.
>> I had to come to us I can
speak and I had to check out of
life.
>> It was to age whether it’s
finding help employment housing
health or mental health care.
The pandemic has only
exacerbated the challenges and
inequities. The transgender
community had to face before
covid.
>> It was very challenging for
me as a trans woman I’ve
already found it challenging
just life in general be a
Porter found the help she
needed at the Montrose center
the Trans community is often
one of the most overlooked
communities and the Times of.
>> When covid hit the Montrose
center which serves Houston’s lgbt community at large saw a
lgbt community at large saw a
sharp increase in requests for
help among Houston’s trans
community.
>> For a chance to remember
during the pandemic it’s
incredibly difficult to find
places where they can get
treatment whether that’s for
covid or otherwise this is kind
of where.
>> I would be able to come out
there so the Montrose center
immediately launched a recovery
fund to help with rent food and
utilities. In the first few
months of the pandemic they
raised over one and a half
million dollars for covid
relief we found that there were
a lot of community members
specifically trans community
members that.
>> Do not feel safe to go to
other social service agencies
because they were afraid that
they would be turned away or
discriminated against because
of their status as a trans
community member to further
support the city’s trans
community. The Montrose center
partnered with the transgender
education network of Texas and
save our sisters United.
A Houston based group for trans
people of color.
>> To form a coalition is show
me what we can do when we’re
connected and we’re empowered
Atlantis. Nurses says the
organization’s founder and the
volunteer coordinator at the
Montrose center.
>> When the pandemic started
she immediately began to worry
about those members of her
community who are already
struggling to begin with.
>> Service sex and gig workers
we source and people are not
true them to swing either pay
my bills or get my charities or
on Tuesday eat or get my
charities HRT stands for
hormone replacement therapy.
Through a foundation grant save
our sisters United has been
able to provide money for food
shelter, basic necessities and
medication like HR teams covid
down Rick relief and allow us
to put trans people first night
every trans person comes with
the family and if we can’t give
them to what they need to start
making noise to make sure that
me if I’m to be made in the
near future.
>> Save our sisters United has
since expanded its reach and is
now helping both trans women
and men in the Houston area. Advocates say through these
Advocates say through these
partnerships.
>> They’re saving lives when he
see is me I’m getting myself
back together Mia says as
embarrassed as she was to ask
for help one of the smartest
decisions she ever made was to
accept it from the Montrose
center you have to take
advantage of those resources.
When you’re with and she says
her ongoing therapy sessions