Working for Lived Equity Report

Report of the 2019-2020 Community Needs Assessment conducted by MTPC.

This report represents the findings of the Working for Lived Equity (W4LE) community needs assessment conducted by MTPC and based on responses from 339 individual survey participants between December 2019 and March 2020. It serves as a follow-up of a 2009 community needs survey, which guided MTPC’s programming.

While much has changed since then, there is still significant work to be done to address the needs and priorities of trans communities in Massachusetts. The W4LE survey serves to collect updated data to better understand the specific needs of trans and non-binary youth, adults, and families in the state, and their thoughts on MTPC’s role in helping to address those needs. The survey also demonstrates that one of MTPC’s assets is the trans community itself as demonstrated by many respondents’ repeated expressed desire to get involved and offer peer support and resources.

Read the Full Report and the Summary Infographic

The Transgender Emergency Fund (TEF) supports low-income and homeless transgender individuals in Massachusetts, assisting with homelessness prevention, shelter assistance, nutrition assistance, prescription co-pay assistance, transportation and escort to medical appointments, etc. All services are contingent on the availability of funds.

Services provided include:

  • HRT prescription co-pays
  • Personal supplies – soap, toothpaste, deodorant, lotion, etc.
  • Homelessness prevention “client must have income to sustain apartment”
  • Rental start up “client must have income to sustain apartment”
  • Clothing for winter months
  • Air mattresses
  • Laundry money
  • Transportation to medical appointments
  • Assistance relocating due to harassment
  • New/replacement state ID with gender marker change

Rainbow Elders offers opportunities and information to build connections and find resources to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, asexual, aromantic, and agender elders, as well as their allies, and educational outreach to agencies, businesses, and the community at large. Rainbow Elders helps people build relationships, give and gain support, grow in knowledge and cultural competence, and advocate for human rights so that everyone can live and age with dignity.

Learn how to update your legal name or new address with the Department of Revenue (DOR). If your legal name or address changes, you will need to contact DOR in order to have your legal name or address updated. Changing your legal name or address with the Social Security Administration, Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), or any other agency does not automatically update your information with DOR. To update your legal name with DOR, you can send proof of your legal name change to DOR through the mail or an e-message. Documents that establish proof of a legal name change include:

  • A copy of your driver’s license
  • Social Security card.