Chris’s Story

“It started December 4th, 2019—I was escorted out of my house. When I came out as trans, it was a big shock to my family. If you really paid attention, it wasn’t that I was hiding. I wasn’t trying to be somebody I’m not—I was just wanting to be accepted.

I had an episode (a symptom of my Bipolar disorder) along with not feeling safe and feared for my life. Right before, my dad was hospitalized. Everything dropped on my shoulders. I had to make sure the house was clean, that there was room for everything, and I was taking care of my dad’s medicine, my medicine, and my younger brother’s medicine all at the same time. I was over-stressing, and I didn’t know how to take the stress level from a high peak down to where I could calm down and say, ‘Look, I need to take a step back.’ But I was just so worried. I lost my mom at an early age, and it was really hard seeing my dad go in and out of the hospital.

I went from one hospital to another in Fremont. Then I found New Haven Inn. My case manager helped get me into a group called Project Hire that will help me with getting employment. I want to find work that’s in a house like [New Haven].

I’m usually pretty happy and optimistic. I’ve had my bad days. When I have my down moments, people are shocked and it’s like, yeah, I’m human. But when I was having a hard time I was allowed to come to [the staff] and tell them what was going on. There was a student therapist that worked here—they helped me realize some aspects of myself that I didn’t even know. I felt really at home talking and opening up to them.
I felt more at home at a shelter than I did at my own house.

[My family and I] are on good terms now, and I’ll be heading back there next month. They’re really excited to have me, and they’re trying—they’re trying to call me what I want to be called. And that took a lot of courage for them, too. It’s been a trial and half, but my family, even if they don’t understand, they support me.

Everything just kind of falls into place. I got a Peer to Peer certificate with NAMI, I have a newfound love for the Niners, I have a biography I’m writing and another fiction story, and I feel a lot more confident in myself and my ability to do things. Time just tells you that things can heal.

If you ever need a safe place to be, New Haven Inn is a great environment, and the staff really push you to thrive. And they’re just good. Good-hearted people trying to make it better for people like me, and I really appreciate it.”

—Chris, New Haven Inn client: Jan 2020—May 2020

*LifeMoves | New Haven Inn, the second LGBTQ+ shelter in the nation, provides temporary shelter in an accepting, safe, and supportive environment along with therapeutic case management to help unhoused members of the LGBTQ+ community to a stable home. Our work is made possible thanks to our many generous partners, including Bank of America.