Supporting transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) people with the information they need to find gender affirming housing in shelters and assert their rights once placed in a shelter.

Community Partners

Participants after the first community session where we learned more about their individual experiences living in a shelter.

Facing rampant housing discrimination, TGNC people are one of the most disproportionately unhoused communities in the United States. Shelters are usually the first place people go to when they are unhoused. Unfortunately, shelters have not been a safe space for TGNC people. They have experienced widespread discrimination and violence in the NYC shelter system, both from staff and other residents. 
Even though policies exist to protect TGNC people in shelters, shelter staff have not implemented these policies, and TGNC people's rights to safe and gender affirming shelter continue to be violated. It's really important that TGNC people understand what their rights are in shelters and what to do if they are violated. 
That’s why the Bronx Defenders LGBTQ Defense Project and Harvard Law School’s LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic collaborated with CUP and designer Marisa Hetzler to create Room to Be Me, a guide that provides TGNC people with clear information to understand how to find gender affirming housing in shelters, what shelter options exist, and what their rights are in shelters. The tool also explains the transfer process in case their shelter placement isn’t safe, and how to report a grievance if other staff or residents are disrespecting or harassing them. 
The advocates are excited to share this booklet with their clients, other attorneys, and community-based organizations that support TGNC people across New York City.

Cover and select spread of Room to Be Me

Check Out the Project

RTBM Digital Final

CUP
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/yasmin-ali" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Yasmin Ali</a>
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/sarah-auches" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sarah Auches</a>
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/clair-beltran" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Clair Beltran</a>

Community Partner
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/the-surveillance-technology-oversight-project-s-t-o-p"></a>
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/bronx-defenders-lgbtq-defense-project" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bronx Defenders’ LGBTQ Defense Project</a>
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/hand-in-hand">Harvard Law School's LGBTQ+ Advocacy Clinic</a>

Designer
<a href="https://welcometocup.org/people/marisa-hetzler" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Marisa Hetzler</a>

Project Collaborators

<h4>Special Thanks</h4>
Andres Diaz, Essence Edwards, Chinyere Ezie, Erin B. Harrist, Mikaila Hernández, Mariah Lopez, Jazmin Marcus, Leah Todd, Jade Thompson, Melonie Turner, Naomi Waters, and the NYC Department of Social Services Office of Legal Affairs and Office of LGBTQI Affairs. <h4>Product Details</h4>
5.5″ x 8.5″ color pamphlet 
<h4>Funding Support </h4>
Support for Making Policy Public is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. This project is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partner-ship with the City Council.
General support for CUP’s programs is provided by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Mertz Gilmore Foundation, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. 

Thanks to all the individuals who supported our crowdfunding campaign for this project during 2023.

Your Truth, Your Rights

TGNC-NYC

From Shelter to Apartment

Keep In Touch

Explore More Projects

Home

Our Projects

Room to Be Me

Breadcrumbs

Hyperakt is a purpose-driven design and innovation studio that elevates human dignity and ignites curiosity. Since 2001, co-founders Julia Zeltser and Deroy Peraza, along with the Hyperakt team, have been partnering with change-makers moving society forward. We believe in design’s power to build a future filled with courage, optimism, and honesty.

Hyperakt

The Center for Urban Pedagogy (CUP) is a nonprofit organization that uses the power of design and art to increase meaningful civic engagement in partnership with historically marginalized communities.

Center for Urban Pedagogy

Supporting transgender and gender-nonconforming (TGNC) people with the information they need to find gender affirming housing in shelters and assert their…

description

generator

keywords

https://welcometocup.org/assets/images/_1200x630_crop_center-center_82_none/BxD_cover_teacup.jpg?mtime=1735917279

The CUP logo, is three letters, C, U, and P. An acronym for the organization.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/cup_photos/

https://www.instagram.com/we_are_cup/?hl=en

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-center-for-urban-pedagogy-cup-/mycompany/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Center_for_Urban_Pedagogy

https://welcometocup.org/projects/room-to-be-me

referrer

robots

twitter:card

twitter:creator

twitter:description

https://welcometocup.org/assets/images/_800x418_crop_center-center_82_none/BxD_cover_teacup.jpg?mtime=1735917279