Support for Laid-off LGBTQ Center Staff

This fundraiser is to support the recently laid-off employees of the LGBTQ Center of Durham.

On April 30th Hunter, Echo, Nikki, and Riley were laid off from the LGBTQ Center of Durham, suddenly and unexpectedly. We were given no notice, and only offered a brief explanation for our lay off. To say we are shocked and heartbroken is an understatement.

We were laid off immediately, our health insurance terminated and only promised a fraction of our accrued PTO (which we have not yet received). All four of us live paycheck-to-paycheck in the most expensive cities in NC. While we do qualify for unemployment, unemployment only covers a fraction of our living expenses.

80% of the money we raise will help Hunter Echo Nikki & Riley with the rising cost of living expenses and sudden loss of income and health care. 20% of the funds will be used to assist other members of the community who lost their case management, housing support, advocacy, and resource connections.

Since the LGBTQ Center of Durham finds it necessary to cut the majority of survivor support and Queer health services in order to keep things “business as usual,” we now have to reach out to y’all, our communities, to help us stay afloat.

We gave so much of ourselves and our hearts to this community and to the LGBTQ Center- and we’re now asking for support from you, members of our communities, to help us by passing the hat and circulating this fundraiser.

A little bit about the beneficiaries:

Hunter served as the Health Case Manager and, before that, as the Health & Community Coordinator for a total of 4 ½ years. Twice a year Hunter organized the iconic Durham Queer Health Fair, a resource fair that connected community members with health care services and providers, health items, and supportive organizations. Hunter was a major asset for The Center; they provided care, guidance, and resources for so many in our community.

Echo was originally brought on in early 2021 to build the LGBTQ Center’s first ever Survivor Services program, and has since spearheaded the statewide initiative exclusively serving LGBTQ victims of intimate partner violence (Southern Queer Survivor Network). Echo had been serving as the housing case manager for the LGBTQ Center’s most recently awarded Safe At Home program for only four months before being laid off.

Nikki started as one of the original advocates on the NC LGBTQ Domestic Violence Responsive Initiative and pioneered the Southern Queer Survivor Network on the East Coast. Nikki has faced housing insecurity since moving to Wilmington for this job, unable to secure a stable and affordable rental; she’s now having to relocate since she’s been laid off.

Riley served LGBTQ survivors in the western region of the state and grew a rad network of people dedicated to supporting our program while supporting clients in a variety of ways. Working paycheck-to-paycheck provided very little safety net for supporting family, and supporting this gofundme would mean all of these advocates and case workers will be able to make ends meet while searching for new employment opportunities.

The impact of our layoffs has already been devastating for the clients we serve. There were folks in our programs who were depending on us to assist them with legal issues, paying for housing, transportation, escaping relational and state-sanctioned violence, and navigating other victim services with very little resources.We refuse to abandon them completely. We are trying to do what we can within our power and influence to continue to directly help our community.

We take care of Us.

We're calling on our community to do what The Center should be doing– fighting for the staff and for the community. Please share this fundraiser. Thank you <3