Urgent Support Needed for Trans Housing

“Marcy” is a longstanding refuge for trans people; our house is and has been a home and a waystation for many trans people living with housing insecurity, transphobic familial estrangement, political displacement, and employment discrimination. For some of us, it is a stop on a longer journey; for others, it is the first real home we’ve ever known.

This month, the security of our home and hospitality has been under threat– all at once, we lost long-term rent-paying roommates and jobs that had provided steady income and stable rent. At the same time, we have just welcomed a new roommate from a trans-hostile state, looking to start a new career and life in NYC.

In response to this urgent situation, we came together to organize a weekly stoop sale to help make up the loss in anticipated rent, and we’d been making progress!--until yesterday.

Yesterday, our landlord stopped by the sale to let us know that the church on the block complained to him, and sent him pictures of us at our stoop sale–they didn’t want to see trans people in public–and he asked us to close up shop and to stop any future sales.

It is distressing to find out– the hard way–that our landlord is happy to take our money every month for housing, but is completely willing to shut down our efforts to make rent, just because phobes don’t want to see us outside.

We plan to set up an online shop to market the remainder of the curated items we still have for sale, but in the meantime, we really need help. Please consider donating to keep us on track with rent as we reorient and focus on finding new employment.

We need $2050 to make rent this month.

We will continue to sell our items online, but given the immediacy of this situation, we have no choice but to turn to online fundraising – any amount, even $5 or $10 helps.

If you have leads on jobs or gigs related to:

Computer services & repair

Office Work

Pet/housesitting

Event Planning

Editing/Copywriting

Retail

Food Service

We are also looking for a roommate: $1100 a month, inclusive, furnished (if desired) with a queen-sized bed, dresser, side tables, small closet, and clothing rack. Front-facing, sunlit windows. Includes shared kitchen, living room, full bath, and office/storage space, to be determined collectively.

Trans/queer friendly, no deposit required, move-in ASAP. Housemates include 2 cats; unfortunately, they are not friendly to new cats or dogs. Other pets negotiable on a case-by-case basis. Easy access to A/C, Atlantic Center, LIRR, B44, and other major bus routes.