Provides resources and support services to the LGBTQ2SIA+ community and allies of the Lower Columbia region. Services include a community center, education opportunities, mentorship, and monthly support groups for adults, youth, and families. Limited financial assistance is available as funds allow for gender-affirming costs, name changes, hormone treatments, and other expenses approved on a case-by-case basis. Financial assistance is limited to once per year, with a $200 limit.

Resources and Support Services offered by Lower Columbia Q Center

Provides resources and support services to the LGBTQ2SIA+ community and allies of the Lower Columbia region.

Programs that pay for or provide soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, combs, brushes, cotton swabs, deodorant, facial tissue, toilet paper and other personal hygiene/grooming supplies for homeless people and other individuals who need them.

Personal/Grooming Supplies

Programs that offer hormone replacement therapy for transgender individuals who are beginning the anatomical and psychological transition to another sex and gender. The therapy involves taking estrogen (for male-to-female transition) or testosterone (for female-to-male transition) before, during, and after the surgical transition. The purpose of hormone therapy is to change the physical appearance of the individual to look like the other sex and to feel comfortable. The feminizing effects of estrogen and the masculinizing effects of testosterone may appear after the first couple of doses, though it may be several years before a person is satisfactorily transitioned.

Transgender Hormone Therapy

Programs that provide cash, vouchers or other forms of monetary aid for people in need of assistance and evaluate the individual's or family's need for the money on a case-by-case basis rather than having pre-established policies regarding the types of needs the dollars can be used to cover.

Undesignated Temporary Financial Assistance

Programs that help people obtain, complete and/or file official forms, certificates, documents, applications or other paperwork that is required to apply for benefits or services, initiate or respond to legal action or to officially handle or document the occurrence of a transaction; that help people acquire copies of official documents on file elsewhere; or that review legal documentation an individual has received to help explain its meaning.

Certificates/Forms Assistance

Programs that provide companionship, guidance and/or role models for adults who are disadvantaged because of age, income, physical or developmental disability or other personal problems and who need friendship and support to improve their personal and social functioning.

Adult Mentoring Programs

Multipurpose centers that serve as a meeting place for people who identify as part of the gender and sexually expansive community that includes people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or two-spirit, to grow together, celebrate diversity and increase public understanding. The centers may offer community events, educational programs, counseling, support groups, library resources, recreational programs and other services that support LGBTQ2+ individuals and organizations.

LGBTQ2+ Community Centers

Mutual support groups whose members are individuals who have or are at risk of an alcohol use disorder. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; provide emotional support, information and resources to help participants overcome their disorder; and may include faith-based and secular 12-step groups as well as non-12 step groups, and groups for anesthetists, pharmacists, psychologists, physicians or other health care professionals who are recovering from an alcohol use disorder.

Alcohol Use Disorder Support Groups

Programs that provide clothing for people who need it. Available items depend on what has been donated and is on hand at any given time. The collection may include but does not specialize in children's clothes, work clothes, maternity clothes and shoes.

General Clothing Provision

Mutual support groups whose members identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit or as part of other communities such as those in the process of coming out or questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. Groups may also be structured for parents, children, heterosexual partners or other relatives or significant others. The groups provide an opportunity for members to share their issues and concerns with others in a safe, supportive environment. Meeting formats may include in-person, telephone or Internet options.

LGBTQ2+ Support Groups

Programs that maintain information about community resources that are appropriate for a specific target group or human services sector (for example, youth programs or addiction services) and which link individuals who are in need of specialized services with appropriate resources and/or which provide information about community agencies and organizations that offer specialized services.

Specialized Information and Referral

Offers free and confidential information, direct assistance and advocacy to individuals and families who speak Russian or Chinese languages and have limited English language skills. Helps people to navigate systems, find resources, learn about programs and connect to their community. Services include, but are not limited to the following: 
- Help with basic needs such as health care, food stamp, housing, financial security benefits, transportation, etc. 
- Sign up ESL and assistance in naturalization application
- Assistance with children’s school issues 
- Signing up for social and recreational activities 
- Child care resources and school system
– Informational and educational workshops 
All services provided are confidential.

Immigrant/Refugee Assistance offered at Chinese Information and Service Center in Bellevue

Offers free and confidential information, direct assistance and advocacy to individuals and families who speak Russian or Chinese languages and have limited English language skills.

Government-appointed nonprofit organizations, frequently associated with the faith community, that provide resettlement services through a network of local affiliates for refugee populations designated by the U.S. Department of State. These organizations take the lead in helping newly arrived refugees or refugee families make an adjustment to their new home and community. Services provided by local affiliates may include reception for arriving refugees; provision of a "welcome kit" of immediate necessities; periodic visits with the family during the early days of their transition; collection and provision of household goods; cultural orientation and ESL classes; and assistance in locating housing and employment, using public transportation and identifying other needed services.

Refugee Resettlement Services

Programs that assign a staff member to assist people who are looking for housing to survey the available residences and to choose and obtain the most suitable option.

Housing Search Assistance

Programs that provide information and guidance for tenants who need to know their rights and responsibilities regarding leases and rental agreements, deposits, legal eviction procedures, measures to protect themselves from unlawful or retaliatory evictions, rent withholding rights, rent control requirements, privacy rights and other issues that may be of particular interest to tenants. Tenant rights counseling may also include assistance in completing forms, advice regarding a particular dispute and contact with the offending landlord to provide notification that she or he is not in compliance with landlord/tenant laws.

Tenant Rights Information/Counseling

Programs developed and staffed by former refugees and immigrants that help newly arrived people from their previous country or region of residence begin a new life in the U.S. Mutual assistance associations address the unique cultural needs of the specific immigrant/refugee population they serve and provide a variety of services including cultural adjustment support, English language instruction, interpretation/translation services, housing and employment assistance, transportation, clothing and furniture, as needed, small business development assistance and help in accessing other social services.

Immigrant Mutual Assistance Associations

Programs that help newly arrived immigrants and immigrant families make an adjustment to their new home and community. Services may include reception for arriving immigrants; provision of a "welcome kit" of immediate necessities and information; cultural orientation and ESL classes; and assistance in locating housing and employment, using public transportation and identifying other needed services.

Immigrant Resettlement Services

Programs that accompany people who are new to the country and may face language and other cultural barriers when establishing themselves, particularly during the first months following arrival. Escorts are generally volunteers with a shared ethnic background who provide assistance in key areas such as housing, employment and education as well as help with other necessities of daily living such as understanding the local public transit system, opening a bank account and learning the location of stores that sell familiar items.

Immigrant Accompaniment Programs

Programs that provide a wide variety of social services that are designed to support the healthy development of families, improve family interaction skills and help fragile families to resolve their problems at a pre-crisis stage before they become unmanageable.  Services may be center-based or provided on an outreach basis to families who are initially reluctant to seek support and generally target the specific needs of a particular community.  Included may be self-sufficiency programs which help families break the cycle of poverty by addressing the barriers to self-sufficiency; early child development and school success programs; programs which address the needs of teen parents; programs which target parents at risk for becoming abusive; programs for families with children who have special developmental needs and programs that focus on the maternal and child health care needs of first-time, expectant women whose babies are at high risk for low birth weight and infant mortality.

Family Resource Centers/Outreach

Programs that provide statewide and community-based services that are designed to improve the availability and quality of child care. These programs maintain lists of child care resources and link families who are in need of child care services with child care centers, licensed family child care homes and other organization-based providers; provide information that helps families become good consumers of child care services; recruit new child care providers to expand the availability of the service locally; provide training and technical assistance for providers; and collect and disseminate data which document the demand for child care services and the current availability of child care resources. Some programs may also make referrals to preschools and many provide referrals to children's play groups.

Child Care Provider Referrals

Programs that provide advocacy and/or other forms of legal assistance for students, their families, advocates and others who have issues that have an impact on the learning environment in public and private educational institutions and affect the ability of students to attend and succeed in school. Specific issues may include school choice, student discipline and dismissal, search and seizure, privacy rights, freedom of expression, religion in schools, student testing, student achievement, promotion and retention policies, graduation requirements, student use of the Internet and other technologies, bullying on campus, student-to-student sexual harassment and school safety. General education advocacy relates to issues that have relevance for all students rather than focusing more narrowly on those related to special education.

General Education Advocacy

County or state offices that accept Food Stamp applications, determine eligibility for the Food Stamp program and allotments, and issue Food Stamp EBT cards which are presented at the grocery checkout counter when purchasing food. Certified households receive their EBT card and instructions for setting up a PIN number within 30 days of the date their application was filed. Expedited food stamps are available within seven days for people who are in an emergency situation and whose income and spendable resources for that month are within specified limits. Also included are other programs that help people prepare and file Food Stamp/SNAP applications and/or are authorized to do eligibility determinations for the program.

Food Stamps/SNAP Applications

Provides domestic and sexual violence services, including safety planning, crisis intervention, advocacy, and educational services. Works with local programs to facilitate safety planning, provide transportation as necessary, and ensure the delivery of culturally relevant services in local shelters.

Healing Circle Domestic Violence Program offered at Native American Youth and Family Center

Provides services to survivors of domestic and sexual violence, including safety planning, crisis intervention, advocacy, and educational services.

Mutual support groups whose members are individuals who have been involved in physical or emotional abuse by a spouse or other partner. The groups meet in-person, by telephone or via the Internet; provide emotional support, information and resources for those who participate; and may be structured for victims of domestic violence, those responsible for battering them, or for adults or adolescents who as children were traumatized by witnessing violence in their homes.

Domestic Violence Support Groups

Programs that provide information and guidance and/or representation in court proceedings for individuals who have been abused in an intimate relationship and/or for people who are facing a summary conviction offence or criminal charge for perpetrating abuse. Included are domestic violence law clinics and other legal assistance programs that represent victims of domestic abuse at restraining order hearings or in other civil or criminal actions involving charges against an abuser. Most also represent the person's interests in complexities that arise as part of the legal process such as restitution, payment of debts or child support, custody and visitation and property control. Some programs may also represent victims of domestic abuse who have been charged with a crime and/or handle cases involving accusations of child abuse filed by one parent against the other, abuse of an elderly person by an adult child or abuse of an adult child by a parent.

Domestic/Family Violence Legal Services

Programs that provide immediate assistance for people who are survivors of rape, incest and other forms of sexual assault which may include steps to ensure the person's safety, short-term emotional support, information regarding the person's rights and alternatives, and referrals and/or accompaniment to resources for medical, legal and emotional needs, advocacy and other related services. Hotline staff are generally available via telephone, email, chat and/or text.

Sexual Assault Hotlines

Programs that provide immediate assistance for women and men who have experienced domestic abuse which may include steps to ensure the person's safety; short-term emotional support; assistance with shelter; legal information and advocacy; referrals for medical treatment; ongoing counseling and/or group support; and other related services. Hotline staff are generally available via telephone, email, chat and/or text.

Domestic Violence Hotlines

Mutual support groups whose members are individuals who have been sexually assaulted or have experienced incest as a child, their spouses or partners, other family members and friends. The groups provide emotional support, information and resources to help participants recover from their ordeal and may be structured specifically for male and female sexual assault survivors; individuals who have been sexually abused by physicians, therapists, religious authority figures or other trusted individuals; or male and/or female adults and teens who experienced incest or were sexually exploited as children. Groups may also be offered for perpetrators of sexual assault, child molestation or other sex crimes. Meeting formats may include in-person, telephone or Internet options.

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Resources and Support Services offered by Lower Columbia Q Center

Immigrant/Refugee Assistance offered at Chinese Information and Service Center in Bellevue

Healing Circle Domestic Violence Program offered at Native American Youth and Family Center