Authored by PrideVMC Industry Liaison, Dr. Ewan Wolff
Cred: Jess Bailey, Unsplash
As a result of the current national climate, many folks from marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ people, are in crisis. This includes firming up financial plans, getting married, working on documents, and/or moving. All of this has a significant monetary impact that not all people can absorb. Some logistics can appear impossible to overcome. Since many companies’ crisis funds have not been made available to help with this ongoing national crisis and non-profits have limited resources, mutual aid has become a necessity. Mutual aid is when the community comes together to help people when other aid networks are lacking. This has been an ingrained part of the LGBTQ+ community for many years that reemerges in times like these and it lacks the level of organization that many may be used to seeing. The personal impact however is significant, and this focus is very much on individuals.
The following are ideas that can be utilized to help your friends in crisis.
GoFundMe
GoFundMe is a great resource when people want to be visible. This has been used for a long time to fund gender affirming care and IVF, however, this is not a time when many people feel safe to be visible. We would recommend against this form of fundraising unless people explicitly say that it is ok.
Cred: Brianna R, Unsplash
Passport Funding/Real ID Funding
Many people are renewing their passports or getting a passport for the first time on an expedited basis. Fees differ depending on the type of passport process that people are getting.
You cannot pay for someone else’s passport if they are not present. However, it is possible to send mony via CashApp, Venmo or Zelle, or to get a Visa card with money on it to send to an individual in this position. The same is true of conversion to a real ID.
Passports can be expedited for renewal either by mail (6 weeks), or within 14 days at a Passport agency on an urgent basis with a plane ticket, or if travel is within North America a hotel reservation in the next 14 days can be used for documentation.
Temporary Housing
It is common for rainbow displaced person/refugee networks to develop ‘couch networks’ where people can stay overnight. For many, they may have family members or partners that make having a couch free not enough to help. If you have an in-law apartment, spare room, ADU, etc. where people could stay for several nights, then this may be something that you could offer to friends who are in need, OR, you could prepare a space to be made available for people who are traveling through your area. Additionally, giving people access to a shower when they are traveling either at your home or at your clinic is important. For safety purposes, we will not be keeping a spreadsheet with this information. Additionally, if you are providing someone with help, you should not discuss this with anyone for their privacy and safety.
Temporary housing comes in many forms. You can also provide help by purchasing gift cards for AirBnB or VRBO and providing them directly to the individuals involved.
You can also purchase numerous gift cards (make sure to activate them) at Target, some of which are hotel gift cards. Possibly the most flexible of these is the Hotels.com gift card.
Cred: Erda Estremera, Unsplash
Moving Support
You can volunteer not just to help with housing people while if needed, you can also help to volunteer with moving assistance, either into, or out of current housing. You can also help with house touch ups prior to moving if you have additional skills. If this is not possible and you want to contribute to moving support, you can help get additional help for moving from services like Two Men and a Truck. You can also help with moving costs through companies like UHaul and Pods.
Travel Assistance
Cred: Anna Sullivan, Unsplash
Numerous airlines offer gift cards, and the most important thing would be to reach out to the individual and ask them what they need. Examples include travel cards from Delta and Alaska. Additionally, train certificates and bus certificates are available such as Amtrak and Van Galder.
RideShare Assistance
People may need assistance with Uber or Lyft costs as they interview for positions or try to sort out housing. You can get gift certificates from these companies here:
Gender Affirming Care
Folx Health and Plume Health are both subscription services that are currently trying to help a lot of people to access care. You can help support someone elses gender affirming care that you know. These links will give you an idea of cost and then you can send funds to assist.
OR support a general fund such as: https://www.folxhealth.com/hrt-care-fund
Reproductive Health Services
Numerous reproductive health services are offered through Planned Parenthood. You can be available to come with someone to an appointment (if for advanced care) if they wish, and to help with recovery by providing a safe space if needed. A list of supplies for recovery is linked here.
Access to Mental Health Services
If mental health care is needed for LGBTQ+ people in crisis, we recommend reaching out to any of the numerous hotlines listed in the Virtual First Aid Kit. However, for therapy funding, you can contribute to on demand services on someone else’s behalf like Better Help.
Meal Assistance
Travel, identification, moving, housing, mental health and reproductive care are all primary considerations, as is food. You can provide assistance by helping displaced/refugee LGBTQ+ people by having a hot meal ready for them when they arrive (similar to the program for refugees in New York), and also start a potluck food delivery chain when people are getting settled. This can be a sign up sheet at work/school etc. Please make sure to check dietary preferences/allergies prior to arranging this. Please also remember that the hardest time can be 3-4 weeks in when assistance is no longer available. Restaurant cards are available at Target and Walmart.
Laundry Money Assistance
When people don’t have access to laundry facilities these costs can add up significantly. You can assist by allowing people to use your washer and dryer, or by providing Visa gift card assistance for laundry money.
Furniture Assistance
Many people who are moving/displaced may not be able to bring furniture with them. Flat pack stores like IKEA can quickly furnish a home. Click here for the link to IKEA gift cards. Target also has furniture available, as does other companies.
Please utilize this form for additional mutual aid resource suggestions.
