Surviving in One of the World's Deadliest Places for Trans People

Groups like the Sidewalk Project are gathering volunteers to provide street medicine and care to people experiencing homelessness, many of whom are trans sex workers in need of basic care items beyond just clothes and food. These volunteers come to those in need with lived experiences, as many of them have experienced homelessness themselves, making them easier to trust as they provide important services like HIV and trans wellness care.

The Kansas City nonprofit KC Can Compost is preparing people experiencing homelessness, formerly incarcerated men, and youth aging out of foster care for jobs in the environmental sector with its Green Core Training Program. Those enrolled in the five-week program learn about environmental issues, solutions, potential jobs, and necessary work and life skills before receiving a pre-apprenticeship certification.

The 100 Families Program provides a vital connection point for community organizations serving people in need, streamlining the process for clients to get help with everything from obtaining a GED to finding housing and getting set up with food benefits. In Texarkana, which established its version of the program in 2022, over 100 community partners are now involved in the effort, and nearly half of clients who came into the program in the last year have since earned a high school diploma or are now working toward one.

The Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team (APAIT) works to positively impact the quality of life for medically underserved communities — particularly people of color within the LGBTQ+ community. APAIT’s primary focus is helping those with behavioral health challenges, housing insecurity, and who are at risk for HIV/AIDS, but has recently expanded its services to include helping those who are victims of sex trafficking.

The rapid rehousing program at Fort Lewis College in Colorado provides students with a free bed in the school’s temporary housing unit while they work with them on finding permanent housing. When necessary, the college also provides financial assistance for things like rent and utilities.

MitiMeth trains Nigerians to harvest the invasive hyacinth seaweed and weave it into products like baskets and furniture. The business helps clean up waterways while securing consistent incomes for local residents.

To combat the high number of children who cannot attend school due to poverty, the Destiny Trust provides homeless, out-of-school children in Nigeria with food, school supplies, and access to shelter.

The Bunmi Adedayo Foundation trains public primary school teachers in new methods and boosts their morale to improve their skills and provide students with a higher quality of education.

Swords to Plowshares is a San Francisco nonprofit providing homeless veterans with a place to live and different types of therapy while working to get them jobs, military benefits, and permanent housing.

The nonprofit Bryant’s Bridge gives LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness a place to live and connects them to health insurance and job and life training to help them transition into adulthood successfully.