When Lindsay Church left the Navy in 2012 after serving under the U.S. government’s infamous “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, they experienced a painful crisis of identity. Now, Church is drawing on their own experience as a trans veteran to open Q’mmunity House, a new transitional housing program in Seattle for unhoused and housing-insecure LGBTQ veterans. The initiative by Minority Veterans of America is funded by Seattle’s Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy.

“I really struggled with, am I a veteran, or am I queer? And if I’m a veteran, I can’t be queer because they hate me here,” says Church, who since co-founded Minority Veterans of America, a nonprofit serving veterans who identify as gender, racial, or religious minorities. “In the queer community, [they] thought of us as police… I was a linguist.”

In the U.S., veterans are more likely than the general population to experience homelessness. The risk factor increases for veterans who are LGBTQ, trans, or people of color. There are an estimated 35,574 unhoused veterans in the U.S. and 750 in King County where Seattle is located, demonstrating the need for transitional housing programs like this one.

Transitional Housing for LGBTQ+ Veterans Provides Tranquility and Access to Green Space

LGBTQ veterans in King County can apply online for one of five spots in the transitional housing program and the house will hopefully officially open by mid-November. Those who are not initially selected will be placed on a waiting list for rooms that open up as participants move into permanent housing.

Residents will live in the house for six to 18 months. In addition to stable housing, the transitional housing program provides case management and wraparound resources for healing, growth, and reintegration, connecting residents to both the veteran and LGBTQ communities in Seattle.

The transitional housing program is designed by and for LGBTQ veterans and surrounded by nature with trees and a community garden. It’s meant to be a safe and tranquil space where residents can heal and reintegrate into post-service life.

Read the full article about transitional housing for LGBTQ+ veterans by Maylin Tu at Next City.