Empowering Our Future
The 2024 Empowering Our Future gala and campaign benefits youth services at the Montrose Center, including Hatch drop-in support groups, suicide prevention, mental and behavioral health services, 24-hour crisis intervention, on-campus school support, and housing support for youth who are experiencing homelessness.
Meet Ashanni
Ashanni’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Despite facing daunting challenges, she embodies resilience and unwavering determination to carve out a better life for herself.
Growing up in Houston, Texas, Ashanni’s childhood was marked by love, yet her path was far from easy. With her mother’s attention divided and her own struggles with housing instability and uncertainty about her sexual orientation, Ashanni faced adversity head-on.
In 2022, when many would have crumbled under the weight of homelessness and housing insecurity, Ashanni found the courage to seek help. Witnessing a friend apply for housing assistance ignited a spark within her, leading her to take the bold step towards a brighter future.
Enter Tiata, her Youth Peer Specialist at the Montrose Center. With Tiata’s unwavering support and guidance, Ashanni not only found a place to call home but also gained access to a wealth of resources aimed at empowering her to thrive. From rental assistance to life skills workshops, Ashanni embraced every opportunity with determination and grace.
Despite working tirelessly in a part-time job with limited hours, Ashanni never lost sight of her dreams. Her dedication to education and self-improvement, as evidenced by her pursuit of phlebotomy studies, speaks volumes about her resilience and unwavering spirit.
But Ashanni’s journey doesn’t end there. Fueled by a desire to pay it forward and uplift others, she’s determined to make a difference in the lives of youth facing similar struggles. By joining the Youth Advisory Board, Ashanni is not just shaping her own future but also championing the dreams of others.
In Ashanni’s story, we find hope, resilience, and the transformative power of community support. Her journey reminds us that no matter the obstacles we face, with courage, determination, and a helping hand, anything is possible. Ashanni’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to overcome, inspire, and shine brightly, illuminating the path for others to follow.
Meet Tiata
Tiata’s journey through housing insecurity from ages 15 to 25 was a tumultuous one, intertwined with her exploration of her sexuality and the realization of her identity as pansexual. Despite the challenges she faced, Tiata was fortunate to have a steadfast best friend who refused to let her sleep on the streets or in shelters. Instead, she found herself couch-surfing among the homes of her best friend, some family members, and later her boyfriend. The lack of a stable space to call her own, coupled with the absence of a place for her belongings, undoubtedly caused stress. Enduring over a decade in such precarious circumstances could have worn down even the strongest of spirits, but Tiata remained resilient.
Drawing from her lived experiences, Tiata sought to empower herself through available workforce readiness programs, such as the employment coaching provided at the Center. Despite being on the Youth Rapid Rehousing Waitlist, Tiata never received the call for her own apartment. She speculated that her ability to avoid literal homelessness by couch-surfing may have inadvertently lowered her score, disqualifying her from the program.
Undeterred by her own struggles, Tiata channeled her energy into advocating for an end to youth homelessness. Now employed as a Youth Peer Support Specialist at the Montrose Center, she serves as a vital link for youth seeking housing support. Developing deep connections with those she assists, Tiata guides them through the maze of employment and housing services, offering unwavering support along their journey to stability.
However, Tiata faced a stark reality: the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) did not classify couch-surfing as homelessness. This left staff at the Montrose Center with the unenviable task of presenting youth with two perilous options: endure the dangers of shelters or sleep on the streets long enough to secure the necessary documentation for assistance. Recognizing the risks these options posed to LGBTQ youth, the Center’s housing staff advised against them.
Driven by a desire for change, Tiata joined the Houston Coalition for the Homeless’ pilot Youth Advisory Board (YAB). Together with other individuals who had experienced homelessness, Tiata lent her voice to shape the direction of youth housing initiatives in Houston. Through the YAB, she provided invaluable insight into the development of new housing programs, including those adopted by the Montrose Center.
Reflecting on her journey, Tiata expressed gratitude for her role at the Montrose Center and the unwavering support of the LGBTQ+ community. She believes that the Center’s homeless youth programs, focusing on school, career readiness, and housing, will provide vital assistance to vulnerable youth. Looking back, Tiata wishes she had access to specialists like employment coaches, housing specialists, and peer support specialists during her own period of homelessness.
Meet Elena
Elena is 22 years old and prides herself on her independence. When the pandemic began last March, she lost the job she had recently begun. Shortly after, she found herself homeless.
She initially sought support from her family but felt she was too much of a burden. They had kicked her out several years before, when she came out as transgender at the age of 17. Although she believes they have become more accepting over the years, living under their roof again was not healthy for her. She pledged to find her own housing.
The Montrose Center set her up in her own apartment. Now free from the stress and financial burden of maintaining housing, Elena is thriving. She enrolled in her first online college courses and found a new job where she can work from home. She was also able to fix her car, which hadn’t worked for several months.
With a renewed sense of hope, Elena is confident of her future success. In addition to becoming financially independent, her goal is to get a driver’s license reflecting her name and gender. With the help of her case manager, Elena will be connected with resources to help her achieve this identity-affirming goal.
Meet Deion
Deion is 19 years old. He became homeless when his mother passed away and he came out to the rest of his family. After some time in an emergency shelter, our rapid rehousing program set him up in his own apartment in early 2020. Now with a safe, stable place to live, he has been able to maintain a job in a big box store for over a year. He is smart with his money and contributes to his rent each month.
COVID has presented extra challenges. He feels lucky that, as an essential worker, he has kept a steady a job, but transportation has been difficult. Early in the pandemic when buses operated on severely reduced schedules, getting to work required him to leave an hour and a half before each shift. Every day he was fearful of getting fired if he was late or missed work.
His main goal for 2020 was to get his driver’s license, which he accomplished with the help of his case manager. He is now working to fix his car, which needs costly repairs.
Deion is working harder than ever, but he is proud of the hard work. He is confident that, with a bit of help, he can tackle whatever challenges come his way.
Meet Crimson
“My whole life was a de-gaying camp. I would not be exaggerating to say that the Montrose Center saved my life.”
When Crimson came out as transgender to his parents, they did everything they could to suppress his identity and eventually told him to leave. Crimson found the Montrose Center the day he left home. He was 16 years old.
Through our Hatch Youth Services, Crimson received the resources he needed to succeed. He found the love and acceptance to embrace his authentic self. We offered mental health services after years of abuse. He was encouraged to go to college and given help securing scholarships.
Today, Crimson is a graduate of the University of Houston. For two years, he served on the board of the UH LGBTQ Alumni Association. He works as an Educator, as well as a Freelance Writer for Spectrum South. He is dedicated to his community and volunteers with Saving Our Sons and Brothers and the Mahogany Project.
Meet Isaac
“I’ve never felt more accepted. It’s like a gift — I don’t have to be anyone else.“
Isaac ran away from home at just 17 years old. His mother had recently passed away from suicide and his father made it clear he did not accept Isaac’s sexuality. To cope with the trauma, Isaac turned to drugs.
He found his way to an emergency shelter, which referred him to the Montrose Center. The first few times our staff reached out, Isaac wasn’t ready to make a change. We kept calling. On the third try, Isaac accepted help.
Isaac now has his own apartment. He is off drugs and has earned his GED. On his way to financial independence, he maintains a steady job. He is proud to have recently bought himself a truck.
You Can Help
The issue is so important and big that we have two ways for you to support!
1) Join our fundraising team, spreading the word and collecting donations for rapid rehousing services for homeless youth. To get started, click the button below, then join a team or create your own fundraising page.
2) Join us at the Empowering Our Future Gala on Saturday, April 13! Ticket holders and sponsors will enjoy an evening of amazing entertainment, delicious cuisine, and the chance to mingle with community leaders and friends.
Want to do both, fundraise and attend the gala?
1) Set up your fundraising page.
2) Make your donation through the gala page.
3) Contact Kennedy Loftin at kloftin@montrosecenter.org, who will be happy to add your gala gift to your fundraising page on the back end so that it reflects on your page towards your goal.
Urgent Need
In the last few years, the needs of each of our youth has increased, and there is more demand for the Center’s youth programs than ever before. LGBTQ youth are more than twice as likely to experience homelessness than their straight peers. Additionally, 56% of LGBTQ youth who wanted mental health care in 2023 were not able to get it. Fewer than 40% of LGBTQ youth reported their home to be LGBTQ-affirming and as many as 41% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year. Young LGBTQ people who are transgender, nonbinary, and/or people of color reported higher rates of suicide attempts than their peers.
Our rapid rehousing services include 18 months of rent, furniture, and comprehensive case management to help LGBTQ youth start adulthood with independence and success.
Thank you for Empowering Our Future! We couldn’t do it without you.