This year, we shine a spotlight on a community that embodies resilience and courage: transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex, and additional identities (TGNCI+) individuals in San Francisco. At the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), we are committed to ending homelessness for the TGNCI+ community through our Ending Trans Homelessness Initiative (ETH).
A Vision for Change
In May 2022, Mayor London Breed announced a bold initiative: to end homelessness for the transgender, gender non-conforming, intersex, and other marginalized gender identities within the TGNCI+ community within five years. This mission is a collaborative effort involving the Mayor’s Office on Housing and Community Development (MOHCD), HSH, the Department of Public Health (DPH), the Office of Transgender Initiatives (OTI), and numerous nonprofit organizations dedicated to supporting TGNCI+ individuals. Our goal is clear—to address and eliminate the disparities that disproportionately affect TGNCI+ individuals experiencing homelessness.
Building Foundations: Housing and Support
Our ETH initiative began with significant investments in providing stable, long-term housing solutions. Over the past year, we’ve made remarkable progress:
- Long-Term Housing Subsidies: We’ve secured at least 150 long-term subsidies through the City’s Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool (FHSP) program. These subsidies are now available to adults and transition-age youth, providing a crucial safety net for those in need.
- Permanent Supportive Housing: We’ve identified a a permanent supportive housing site for TGNCI+ youth. Scheduled to open in early 2025, this site will offer not only housing but also comprehensive and culturally responsive supportive services, including case management, education, employment assistance, and healthcare.
- Capacity Building for Providers: Partnering with organizations like the TGI Justice Project and Community Forward SF, we’ve enhanced our capacity to support housed participants through financial management and program evaluation, ensuring transparency and long-term stability.
Strengthening Shelters and Immediate Support
Addressing homelessness requires both immediate and long-term solutions. Over the past year, HSH has focused on enhancing shelter services for the TGNCI+ community:
- Taimon Booton Navigation Center: With an investment of $800,000, we’ve supported the transition to new management, ensuring the center can continue to provide safe and affirming shelter to TGNCI+ individuals. This includes training, facility upgrades, and additional staffing to meet the community's needs.
- Hotel Vouchers : Allocating $500,000, we offer temporary hotel stays for those whose safety is at risk. This program launched in May 2024 and provides immediate relief while longer-term housing solutions are secured.
Cultivating Understanding: Building Cultural Humility
True support goes beyond housing—it involves fostering an environment of understanding and respect. In November 2023, HSH and the Office of Transgender Initiatives (OTI) launched the Affirming Trans Access to Housing (ATAH) training symposiums, co-led by Anjali Rimi (HSH) and Shane Zaldivar (OTI). They both identify as trans women of color, and they led the creation and implementation of the training. These mandatory training sessions have already seen participation from 34 organizations and 652 individuals, equipping service providers across the San Francisco Homelessness Response System with the knowledge and skills to support the TGNCI+ community effectively.
Key components of the symposium include:
- Affirming TGNCI+ Identities: Training providers on using inclusive language and understanding diverse gender identities.
- Trans Access to San Francisco Housing: Educating on the systemic inequities that TGNCI+ individuals face and how the Ending Trans Homelessness Initiative addresses these challenges.
- Building Trans-Affirming Services: Developing organizational policies that promote TGNCI+ inclusion and safety.
Addressing the Root Causes
The housing crisis hits the TGNCI+ community harder than most.
Approximately half of TGNCI+ individuals in San Francisco have experienced homelessness, a rate nearly 18 times higher than the general population. Factors such as systemic discrimination, lack of access to education, employment, and healthcare, and rising transphobia contribute to this disparity.
San Francisco is a beacon of hope and support, known for its sanctuary status and progressive policies. HSH's ETH initiative aligns with the Home by the Bay Strategic Plan, which emphasizes reducing disparities in homelessness and housing outcomes for all communities, especially those most vulnerable.
Moving Forward Together
The journey to ending homelessness for the TGNCI+ community is ongoing, but the progress made thus far is a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration and commitment. With continued support from our partners, community organizations, and the residents of San Francisco, we are building a future where everyone has a safe and affirming place to call home.
As we honor Homelessness Awareness Month, let’s reaffirm our dedication to ending homelessness for the TGNCI+ community. Together, we can create a city where homelessness is rare, one-time, and brief, and where every individual, regardless of their gender identity, thrives with dignity and support.