Services
The TG Center houses a variety of Transgender Foundation of America service that are designed to benefit both the individual and community. We provide services that other organizations can’t, or won’t, in an enviroment that planned by, focused on, and led by transgender people.
Individual Services
Free HIV Testing and Counseling Services: When you are ready to test, we’ll be there. HIV testing and counseling services are available to for appointments and drop-ins. If you are unable to make it to the TG Center, we will come to you, day or night.
Name Change Assistance: TFA has a long track record of assisting low-income individuals obtain and gender and/or name change on state-issued ID.
Case Management: Clients that are in need of services receive a customized service plan and support to help the client reach their goals such as.
Medical Treatment: Instead of receiving a simple referral, clients in need of medical treatment receive tailored referrals to professionals who are vetted by TFA.
Medication Assistance: Clients who are in need of assistance paying for medications can receive assistance in exchange for volunteer hours given to any Houston-area nonprofit.
Surgical Assistance: Clients who are cleared for surgery and are having trouble coming up with the money for surgery and receive assistance in exchange for volunteer hours given to any Houston-area nonprofit.
Helpline: You can reach the TFA Helpline at 713-520-8586.
Immigration Assistance: Clients who are seeking refuge from abuse, torture and threats of murder in their home country can receive supportive services such as housing and legal representation.
Free Socials, Classes & Workshops: TFA hosts several activities designed to strengthen community ties as well personal growth and development. Some of these activities are: The Friday Night Social, TG Yoga and the TG Dance Class.
Myra Ical Vigil
Community Services
Free Meeting Space: All transgender support groups can meet at the TG Center free of charge with the TFA Board Approval.
Speakers Bureau: TFA staff and volunteers regularly provide training at schools, businesses and organizations on TG issues.
TG Reference Library: The TG Center makes it’s library open to the public every weekday. The library includes journals, studies, biographies and more, both current and obscure. The library includes both the most current information on transgender issues as well as delicate books that are hundreds of years old. The TG Center’s library is the only one of it’s kind in Texas.
TG Archive: The TG Center makes it’s archive open to the public every weekday. The archive includes ephemera, statuary and artifacts from cultures world-wide spanning thousands of years. The TG Center’s archive is the only one of it’s kind in the world.
Studies: TFA regularly partners with Universities and governmental agencies to produce better, more comprehensive and unbiased studies concerning the transgender community.
Community Actions: When the community suffers an injustice, TFA responds. TFA organized the largest TG action in Houston’s history and regularly organizes community actions in support of supportive programs and services.
Direct Advocacy: Whether it’s meeting with elected officials or breaking down barriers to services, the folks at TFA have successfully brought several million dollars of needed trans-specific services to the Houston area.
Community Empowerment: TFA is community powered. All TFA programs and services are put together by the TG community, overseen by the TG Community for the TG Community. TFA is a membership organization; membership is free and members vote on who gets to sit on the Board of Directors. TFA is a collaborative effort; each group that meets at the TG Center has a representative on the Community Advisory Board (CAB). The CAB is responsible to ensuring that TG Center programs and activities are in-line with community needs. The Board of Directors and CAB work together collaborative. TFA empowers the TG Community to conceive, cultivate and oversee it’s own services.
Additionally, TFA regularly organizes events that bring the TG community, service providers and elected officials together in order to facilitate community growth and development.
Watchdog: TFA actively researches service providers and investigates claims of discrimination. In 2009, TFA began a “secrete shopper” program designed to document the treatment transgender clients receive when attempting to access needed services.