Trans Housing Coalition will be expanding its Housing First Program after receiving a grant from Health Care Advocates International’s HCAI Fund.

The non-profit, an Atlanta-based trans-led organization aimed at getting chronically homeless Black trans women off the streets, received $35,000 to support their housing program.

“The HCAI Fund grant empowers the Trans Housing Coalition to expand their Housing First Program, providing a crucial lifeline to transgender and gender non-conforming individuals experiencing homelessness in Atlanta,” Mary Wilson, Trans Housing Coalition Executive Director, said in a statement to WSB-TV. “Many individuals in the transgender community need more than housing, they need a community of support. By establishing stable housing, fostering social connections, and ensuring access to healthcare, we can significantly improve health outcomes and quality of life for this vulnerable population.”

According to a report by Covenant House Georgia, about 40 percent of Atlanta’s homeless youth population are LGBTQ. In a survey of transgender women in Metro Atlanta from 2019-2020 done by the Georgia Department of Public Health, 53 percent of respondents had experienced homelessness in the last year, and 34 percent were currently experiencing homelessness at the time of the survey.

“The state of homelessness within this community exposes this population to heightened health and safety vulnerabilities, including increased risks of hate crimes, mental health challenges, and sexually transmitted diseases,” the Coalition said in a statement.

Pattie McKnight, the Executive Director of HCAI, said the funds will support the “life-saving shelter and support for LGBTQ individuals” that the Trans Housing Coalition provides.