General Terminology:

Financial Resources

• GEAR – Gender Euphoria and Affirmation Resources (Trans and Nonbinary People, all ages) provides trans and nonbinary people with access to products, garments, and resources that affirm who they are at no cost.
• REACH Emergency Funds - Relief and Emergency Assistance Community Hope (Trans and Nonbinary People, all ages) provides transgender and nonbinary people in Massachusetts with emergency funds for a variety of expenses.
• DTA - The Department of Transitional Assistance: assists and empowers low-income individuals and families to meet their basic needs, improve their quality of life, and achieve long term economic self-sufficiency.

Legal Resources

• Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination: Independent state agency that enforces the Massachusetts anti-discrimination laws by investigating complaints of discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and other aspects of everyday life. 617-727-3990
• GLAD Legal Advocates and Defenders, Contact for free and confidential legal information, assistance, and referrals.
• The National Center for Transgender Equality offers useful resources for name changing and includes state by state policies. It offers information and guidelines for changing names on various government and federal documents.
• Identity Document Assistance also offers support for help which changing names on documents, including financial assistance and guidance.

Medical Resources

• Gender Affirming Surgery encompasses a variety of different procedures depending on the needs and goals of the individual. This is a brief overview of common procedures and what they involve.
• The Massachusetts HIV Drug Assistance Program (HDAP) helps eligible state residents living with HIV to pay for medications and health insurance.
• BAGLY – The Clinic at BAGLY Services : Offers in-person HIV and STI testing, treatment, and PrEP for LGBTQ+ youth 29 years and younger. Testing is free of cost and must be booked online or by email in advance.
• GLASS – GLBTQ+ Adolescent Social Services : In-person HIV and STI testing, treatment, and PrEP for LGBTQ+ youth ages 16-29.

Community Support

• Boston Area Trans Support : A peer-run support group for 18+ trans and non-binary adults in the Boston area. Meet weekly in Cambridge (wheelchair accessible through secondary entrance; inform at the time of registration) and Dorchester (wheelchair accessible through main entrance). Meeting location and time provided after registration request.
• Bisexual Resource Center : The Bisexual Resource Center has been creating resources, providing support, and helping to create a stronger sense of community for bi/pan/fluid people across the U.S. and beyond. The BRC continues to raise awareness and build bridges within the LGBT and ally communities and sponsors regular support and social groups throughout the year.
• Fireweed Collective: QTPOC Support Space : Virtual spaces where folks can connect and offer mutual aid with others who share similar life experiences and struggles. Groups run for a month. They meet once a week online for 60 to 90 minutes. All support groups are sliding scale and are facilitated by members of Fireweed Collective.
• The Network/La Red : Survivor-led organizing to end partner abuse: telephone support group specializes in serving adult lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer and transgender survivors of partner abuse. This group may fill in the gap for survivors who cannot attend an in-person support group.
• Boston Alliance of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Youth (BAGLY), is a youth-led, adult-supported social support organization committed to social justice and creating, sustaining, and advocating for programs, policies, and services for the GLBT youth community.
• PFLAG Greater Boston : A safe and welcoming spaces to meet with other community members with LGBTQ+ people in their lives, including families whose children have come out to them, friends, and significant others, or those who are interested in learning how to become a better ally to LGBTQ+ people. These groups meet once or twice a month, are run by trained volunteers, and are of no cost.

Housing Resources

• State-Aided Public Housing is a housing program consisting of apartments that are owned by Local Housing Authorities (LHAs) which are directly rented to qualified and eligible applicants.
  • To apply, please use the CHAMP (Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Programs) website: More information: https://www.mass.gov/guides/how-to-apply-for-public-housing
• MASSCAP: Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) plays a leading role in advocating for affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families.
• MassAccess: The MassAccess Housing Registry helps people to find affordable rental and homeownership opportunities in Massachusetts. A key feature of the registry is to highlight homes for people with disabilities who need accessible or barrier-free housing.
• Safe Spaces for LGBTQIA+ youth: A community-focused program that provides a readily accessible community, with benefits that unite around three aspects — fulfilling the needs of the members, providing a sense of membership, and that are peer-led, and adult-supported.
• Assisted Living Program: The Assisted Living Program (ALP) provides both affordable housing opportunities and supportive services for persons living with HIV/AIDS, throughout Massachusetts.

Food Resources:

• Project Bread Food Source Hotline: Toll-free hotline which provides a comprehensive information and referral service to individuals and families facing hunger in Massachusetts. Project Bread can connect you to resources for a free hot meal, soup kitchens, emergency groceries, and food pantries in your community. (800) 645-8333
• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) Benefits (Food Stamps): The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) administers SNAP benefits. SNAP provides a monthly benefit to buy nutritious foods. Eligibility for SNAP benefits depend on financial and nonfinancial criteria. (877) 382-2363
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program: WIC is a nutrition program that provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and other services, free of charge, to Massachusetts families who qualify. (800) 942-1007
• Fair Foods Inc.: The $2 Bag Program: Each bag contains over twelve pounds of mixed fresh produce. Items range from fresh spinach, mangos, potatoes, and more. Program aims to make two dollars go further towards fresh groceries every week. (617) 288-6185

Crisis Support:

LGBTQ+ Helplines / Peer Support

• LGBT National Hotline: 888-843-4564
• LGBT National Youth Talk line: 800-246-7743
• LGBT National Senior Hotline: 888-234-7243
• Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860
• Lifeline Chat and Text: text 988
• The Trevor Project
  • Text Start to 678-678
  • Call 1-866-488-7386