We are from Sahodaran, the first Community Based Organization in Chennai run by and for the Transgender and LGBIQA+ community.  

Sahodaran works with Transgender and LGBIQA+ people from low-income backgrounds that are at high risk prevention and care services with social support, counseling, and crisis intervention and also empowers them to become leaders, paving the way for greater social recognition for sexual minorities nationwide. We envision a world where sexual minorities can access safe sexual health services, legal support and social entitlements, and where atrocities against sexual minorities are eliminated.

At our current rental space, we have witnessed the transformative power of community support for the transgender community. Now, we are seeking your help to create a permanent space that will allow us to provide even greater support and resources.

Throughout our efforts to provide community services, finding and renting office space has been a recurring challenge. Due to pervasive stigma and discrimination in society, and misunderstandings among landlords, we have been forced to relocate four times. This instability has been a significant impediment to our ability to serve the affected community. It is already difficult to mobilize frequently migrating gender/sexual minority individuals, and the constant relocation makes it even harder for them to access our services and pursue their social entitlements. In addition, the frequent rent increases and landlords' inconsistent understanding of the community pose ongoing threats to our ability to provide reliable services. 

We are in urgent need of a permanent space of our own, where we can continue to serve the community effectively and without interruption. Our office is a vital resource for the gender and sexual minority communities, receiving visits from at least 50 individuals daily seeking assistance with a range of needs, including accessing social entitlements, education, skill building, job opportunities, and reconnecting with family. 

To better serve our community, we are searching for a building with a minimum of 750 square feet of space, spread over two floors (ground plus two), with dedicated rooms for counseling and administrative activities, as well as a hall that can accommodate up to 50 people for discussions, training, and other activities. 

Our research indicates that the cost of such a space will be at least 1.50 crore rupees The preferred space is in and around Nungambakkam which is a nodal point with all means of commuting easily accessible. Also, as we are in this cluster for about two and a half decades, we were able to sensitize the neighborhood and the stakeholders and attained a recognition and strong base to run a community-based organization and a community centre.

We will be utilizing our office space for administrative activities, as well as providing services to the community more effectively. These services will include counseling support, Drop-in centre, advocacy activities, internships for students and research scholars, skill building, and livelihood training. Our livelihood training will focus on developing vocational, entrepreneurial, leadership and basic management skills, resulting in effective learning, increased income generation, healthier and safer lifestyles, and an improved standard of living.