<div>This is a fundraiser for our classmate and dear friend Lena, who is a trans woman in need of stable housing while she pursues a degree and career in LGBT-Affirming Clinical Psychology. Members of our class cohort have banded together to help raise money to contribute to Lena’s housing security. We sincerely believe in the importance of Lena’s voice in the mental health field.
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<div>It's been an honor to study with Lena. Her voice has been integral to our collective learning. Lena has proven to be extremely passionate about providing support for trans youth and people who struggle with addiction and trauma. The adversity she has experienced and overcome in her life gives her a unique perspective on how to support others who struggle in similar ways.
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<div>Working together with Lena, she has disclosed her circumstances and needs to help her get through graduate school so we can continue to learn with her.
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<div><strong>From Lena:</strong>
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<div>Hi! I’m a disabled, queer trans woman, animal caretaker, survivor, and community activist living in Los Angeles. I am homeless and have been in various states of housing insecurity for the last 5 years.
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<div>I’ve dedicated my life to serving others in addiction and trauma recovery. I’ve been a sober addict in recovery for 14 years. My service extends beyond; I am a licensed hotline crisis counselor with The Anti-Violence Project. <strong>I love supporting others. </strong>Witnessing people heal, grow, and discover their true identities is the greatest, most profound, and lasting joy of my life.
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<div>I’m ready to receive abundant support as I have freely given of myself.
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<div><strong>I’ve found my calling and am at a miraculous turning point</strong>: I’ve begun grad school, earning my MA in LGBT-Affirming Clinical Psychology.<strong> I want to make the world a safer and more prosperous place for transgender and non-binary youth.</strong>
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<div><em>I need your help to do this.</em> With my limited resources and identity, the pressure to locate and secure safe housing is amplified, and its importance paramount.
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<div>What I know for certain: the LGBT community has carried me and will continue to; there is a safe haven to call my own just waiting for me, and I will find it through community outreach. <strong>I need financial support to ensure I can consistently and with certainty pay rent every month while I’m in school and earning my LMFT license.</strong>
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<div><strong><em>Lena’s Big Breakthrough Fiscal Break-Down</em></strong>
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<li>With my earnings as a dog-walker, I can safely commit to putting $400 a month towards rent.
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<li>The average rent (per apartments.com) in Los Angeles is $2,089. That’s a deficit of <strong>$1689</strong> per month to ensure a safe, stable shelter.
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<li>If I remain in school full-time (my north star!) I can expect to graduate in December of 2025.
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<li>On average, it takes an additional year of traineeship to earn the requisite 3,000 clinical hours for LMFT licensure, at which point I will be able to earn a living wage as a therapist!! Yay!!!
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<li>This undertaking is a <strong>massive</strong> life commitment and sacrifice for anyone- including those with financial safety-nets and stable housing, and it is one I am <em>emphatically, unapologetically, and fearlessly committed to making in full faith</em>. I am meant to be on this journey!
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<div><strong><em>To that end, </em></strong>I am asking for a subsidy to ensure my rent is covered until I can begin practice as a licensed therapist in three years' time. This will allow me to wholly devote myself to school, clinical training, and ensure that my mental and physical health are protected.
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<div>I’m not great at math, but I’ve consulted with the experts over at <em>Googling Basic Arithmetic Inc.</em>, and the math comes out to
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<div>$1,689 x 36 = $60,804
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<div>Please help me survive and thrive. I am immensely grateful, and teeming with excitement, knowing I can spend my life supporting queer and trans youth. We all deserve abundant futures.
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<div>All funds will go directly to Lena. The sky's the limit and we believe we can raise <strong><em>and</em></strong> exceed our fundraising goal.
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<div><em>Funds raised beyond our baseline $60,804 goal will go directly toward supporting Lena's medical transition costs</em>, which in estimate will range between $10-50K. We will send updates with more cost breakdown of medical transition costs at the time of reaching our base goal.
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<div><strong>Also, </strong>once we reach our base goal, <em>5% of all additional donations</em> will be passed directly on to <strong><em>For the Gworls</em></strong>- a Direct-Action Non-Profit that raises money to assist with Black trans folks’ rent &amp; affirmative surgeries.
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<div><em>In the spirit of abundant life, safety &amp; joy for trans people everywhere, we thank you for your support in changing Lena's life, and the lives of all those she has will help as an LGBT+ counselor and advocate</em>.
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Mary Burd

Nicole Howe

Evan Rathjen

Kelley Hersey

Anonymous

Lauren & Remi Dessinges

Mollie Goldberg

Elliott Case

Matt Stone

Jeff Pfeifer

Abigail Kwok

Cierra King

Nora Bright

Jared Goode

Zakaria Sheikh-Abdi

Salima Mulji

Help Lena Thrive: Housing, Healing & Gender-Affirming Care

Help Lena Thrive: Housing, Healing & Gender-Affirming Care

Still $51,013 to go. Help us build momentum.