Transgender Advocates For Justice And Accountability Tajas Coalition

THE TRANSGENDER ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY (TAJA) COALITION HAS BEEN ORGANIZED TO IDENTIFY AND FULFILL THE ESSENTIAL NEEDS OF TRANSGENDER WOMEN OF COLOR THROUGH ADVOCACY AND SERVICE IMPLEMENTATION. THE TAJA COALITION UNDERSTANDS THAT TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE SUPPORT LACKS THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NON-BINARY COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ARE OFTEN DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY STRUCTURAL VIOLENCE, SUCH AS HOUSING INSECURITY, POOR HEALTH OUTCOMES, AND BARRIERS TO BOTH GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT AND HIGHER EDUCATION. THE COALITION IS MADE UP OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONAL ALLIES COMMITTED TO OUR SHARED MISSION TO STOP THE GENOCIDE OF TRANS WOMEN OF COLOR. THE VISION OF TAJAS COALITION IS SAFETY FOR TRANS WOMEN IN A WORLD FREE OF THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX AND STATE VIOLENCE; AN ECONOMY CENTERED ON THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE; AND ARRANGEMENTS OF POWER AND SPACE THAT CENTERS INTERDEPENDENCE.

DIGITAL INCLUSION & DIVERSITY EDUCATIONTHESE WORKSHOPS ARE INFORMATION SESSIONS CONCERNING HOUSING AND OTHER COMMUNITY RESOURCES. SINCE THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2019, TAJAS COMMENCED MONTHLY CONVENINGS. OUR WORKSHOP HAS AT LEAST 10 ATTENDEES PER WORKSHOP. PARTICIPATION IS RECORDED VIA SIGN-IN SHEETS (HARD COPY AND ELECTRONICALLY). THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO PROVIDE TRANSGENDER WOMEN OF COLOR AND ALLIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS AND CURRENT NEEDS AS IT PERTAINS TO ACCESSING PUBLIC SERVICES, EMPLOYMENT, AND ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO SURVIVAL AND GROWTH. THE CONCERNS THAT ARE RENDERED BY EACH PARTICIPANT ARE RECORDED IN THE MEETING NOTES AND TRANSFERRED TO CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS (PARTICULARLY THE OFFICE OF INITIATIVES) FOR RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONSIDERATION TO NEW PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT FOR TRANSGENDER WOMEN AND ALLIES. THE WORKSHOPS ALSO SERVE AS A CONVENING FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS TO OUTREACH AND CONNECT TRANSGENDER WOMEN AND ALLIES TO OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. GENDER DIVERSE EDUCATION THESE TRAININGS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO EDUCATE HOUSING PROVIDERS ON THE TOPICS CONCERNING TRANS AND LGB COMMUNITY MEMBERS. TAJAS COMMENCED THESE TRAINING SESSIONS IN OCTOBER OF 2019. EACH TRAINING COURSE HAS AT LEAST 40 PARTICIPANTS ALTHOUGH THE GOAL WAS PER WORKSHOPS; TRAINEES ARE RECORDED VIA SIGN-IN SHEETS AND ELECTRONICALLY AT EVERY EVENT OCCURRENCE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE TRANSGENDER INCLUSION AND SAFETY IN EXISTING SHELTERS AND HOUSING PROGRAMS THROUGH COMPREHENSIVE ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. IN ADDITION TO ADDRESSING TOPICS CONCERNING SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENTITY, TAJAS ENGAGES IN QUALITY ASSURANCE WHICH INCLUDES PROVIDING RECOMMENDATIONS TO COMMUNITY HOUSING ORGANIZATIONS OPERATIONAL POLICIES THAT PROMOTES A GENDER AFFIRMING ENVIRONMENT FOR TRANSGENDER RESIDENTS. TAJAS COALITION UNDERSTANDS THAT ADDED SUPPORT OUTSIDE OF TRAINING IMPLEMENTATION WITH COMMUNITY HOUSING STAFF IS CRUCIAL IN EVALUATING THE IMPACT OF THE TRAINING. HOUSING SERVICE PROGRAMTAJA (TRANSGENDER ADVOCATES FOR JUSTICE AND ACCOUNTABILITY) PROVIDES RAPID HOUSING AND HOUSING SUBSIDIES FOR TRANSGENDER WOMEN OF COLOR. PARTICIPANTS HOUSING NEEDS ARE ASSESSED THROUGH AN INITIAL QUESTIONNAIRE AND EVALUATION WHICH INVOLVES A SURVEY OF THEIR CURRENT HOUSING CONDITION (CURRENTLY UNHOUSED, EXPERIENCING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, LOSS OF INCOME/EMPLOYMENT, ETC.). WHILE THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO IS WORKING TIRELESSLY TO ADDRESS OUR CURRENT HOMELESSNESS, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, IT IS NOTABLE THAT TRANSGENDER COMMUNITIES EXPERIENCE SUCH DISPROPORTIONATE RATES OF HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING INSTABILITY. RECENT STUDIES SHOW THAT, THROUGHOUT THE U.S., 70% OF TGNC PEOPLE TRYING TO ACCESS A SHELTER IN THE PAST YEAR REPORTED BEING HARASSED BY SHELTER STAFF OR RESIDENTS. SIMILARLY, SAN FRANCISCOS CURRENT SHELTER AND HOUSING SERVICES REMAIN INACCESSIBLE AND UNSAFE FOR THE VULNERABLE TRANSGENDER WOMEN WHO NEED LINKAGE TO SHELTER AND HOUSING SERVICES THAT OFFER CULTURALLY SENSITIVE SERVICES, EQUAL ACCESS, AND SAFE PLACEMENTS FOR THE COMMUNITIES.