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 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

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

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 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 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 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

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 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 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 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

Works with Hispanic or Native clients who are victims of violence.
Helps with funding for emergency needs as well as for housing and relocations.
Works with clients to assess what services will best fit the client needs.
Also offers counseling to victims of sexual assault.

Domestic Violence/Victims of Crime Program offered at Mi Centro

Works with Hispanic or Native clients who are victims of violence. Works with clients to assess what services will best fit the client needs.

Programs that develop plans for the evaluation, treatment and/or care of individuals who, because of age, illness, disability or other difficulties, need assistance in planning and arranging for services; which assess the individual's needs; coordinate the delivery of needed services; ensure that services are obtained in accordance with the case plan; and follow up and monitor progress to ensure that services are having a beneficial impact on the individual. Case management is a collaborative process characterized by communication, advocacy and resource management to promote high quality, cost-effective interventions and outcomes.

Case/Care Management

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

Provides a one-stop resource of local services to assist veterans with housing, counseling, job search, and mentoring, among other things. Also offers assistance with obtaining earned benefits.

Veteran Services offered at Columbia Basin Veterans Center

Provides a one-stop resource of local services, employment opportunities, housing, counseling, and mentoring for veterans.

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 make rental payments for people who are at risk of eviction without assistance. Also included are rent supplement programs that provide assistance with ongoing monthly rental costs. Rent payment assistance programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.

Rent Payment Assistance

Programs that provide assistance for veterans who are having difficulty understanding, accessing, and/or are unaware of the full benefits and services to which they are entitled by law based on service to their country. The programs may help veterans understand the eligibility criteria for benefits and services, the benefits and services provided by the program, the payment process and the rights of beneficiaries; provide consultation and advice; help them complete benefits and services application forms; negotiate on their behalf with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs staff; and/or represent them in administrative processes or judicial litigation. Included are Veteran Services Officers (VSOs) who are trained and accredited by the Veteran's Administration (VA) and can be found in offices specific to each state, the county courthouse, the local VA office and local veteran's rights organizations; as well as legal aid programs that offer more formalized legal assistance.

Veteran Benefits Assistance

Programs that provide extended shelter and supportive services primarily for homeless individuals and/or families with the goal of helping them live independently and transition into permanent housing. Some programs require that the individual/family be transitioning from a short-term emergency shelter. The length of stay varies considerably by program. It is generally longer than two weeks but typically 60 days or more and, in many cases, up to two years or more. The supportive services may be provided directly by the organization managing the housing or may be coordinated by them and provided by other public or private agencies. Transitional housing/shelter is generally provided in apartment style facilities with a higher degree of privacy than short-term homeless shelters; may be provided at no cost to the resident; and may be configured for specialized groups within the homeless population such as people with substance use disorders, a mental illness, AIDS/HIV, who have experienced domestic violence and/or veterans. In some cases, a "transition in place" option allows families to continue living in the same complex (if not the same unit) where their transitional housing unit is located when they are ready to move to permanent housing. In other cases, the permanent housing option is either public housing or private rental housing supported by a tenant-based voucher subsidy. Included are post-domestic violence shelter housing programs that make affordable rental housing (or other accommodations) available to women, generally those who are coming directly out of a domestic violence shelter or other crisis shelter, often in apartment complexes owned by the shelter; and programs that provide transitional housing and support services for other targeted groups such as military and veteran families and others who need a temporary supportive living environment to maintain stability and begin to thrive.

Transitional Housing/Shelter

Programs that provide information and guidance for people who need to evaluate their aptitude, abilities and interests in order to choose a vocation or career and select the type of training that will enable them to obtain and progress in positions in the public or private sector that are productive and fulfilling.

Career Counseling

Programs that provide resume preparation assistance, career counseling, vocational assessment, job development, job training, job search, job placement and/or other services for unemployed veterans who need assistance re-entering the workforce. Programs for homeless veterans may also provide supportive services such as clothing; access to temporary, transitional and permanent housing; referrals for medical and substance abuse treatment; and transportation assistance. Veteran employment programs may be configured for recently separated veterans, homeless veterans, veterans with service-connected disabilities and other special populations or may be broadly available to veterans in general.

Veteran Employment Programs

Programs that provide money or vouchers to purchase gasoline, most frequently for individuals who need their automobile for necessary local or out-of-town travel but cannot afford to run their vehicle without assistance, but occasionally for people driving through the local area who have become stranded.

Gas Money

One-stop centers that provide an array of employment and training services in a convenient, easily accessible location. Services may include job counseling, testing and assessment; resume preparation assistance, interview training and other prejob guidance services; job matching and referral; unemployment insurance and job registration; labor market and career information; information on financial aid for education and training; and referral for job training, transportation, child care, personal and financial counseling, health care and other human services resources in the community.

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Resources and Support Services offered by Lower Columbia Q Center

Domestic Violence/Victims of Crime Program offered at Mi Centro

Veteran Services offered at Columbia Basin Veterans Center