my-sistahs-house

Standing Strong: Support La'Myah’s Recovery

Thu, 08 May 2025 22:33:36 GMT

La'Myah Mason, a 35-year-old security professional with deep ties to Memphis, became the victim of gun violence on April 22nd when she was shot twice—once in the hand and once in the stomach. The impact has been enormous: "My doctor has taken me off of work for six to eight weeks. And this impacts me…all the way across the board."

With over 15 years in security, La'Myah has worked in hospitals, the legal system, and currently serves as an area manager for apartment complexes. "What ended up getting me into security is the fact that it was not only easy money, but also that I could be an independent contractor," she explains. Yet her motivation evolved: "When I did start doing it was more like a public service. I'm protecting, I'm giving back."

La'Myah's approach to security centers on compassion and communication. "I lead with respect... and dignity with people," she shares. "You give respect to get respect. And just because you're in a leadership position does not mean that you have to rule with an iron fist."

Her connection to My Sistah's House began around 2019, during the early days of COVID. Though she eventually moved on seeking a larger living space, she understands the crucial support MSH provides: "It is a struggle with black trans women with housing."

The shooting has disrupted every aspect of La'Myah's life. "I can't plan financially... I can't do any type of budgeting because I don't know... where I stand, what I'm bringing in." The emotional toll is equally challenging: "Being stuck at the house, no income... it becomes very exhausting not being able to get up and do the things that you are normally accustomed to doing."

Remarkably, when asked what her community could do to support her, La'Myah's thoughts quickly turned to prevention and rehabilitation. "It was a 16 year old that shot me," she reveals, "and me personally, I feel as if... if the community was able to put something together for the adolescent and something for our youth to stay busy, something positive and mentoring with better guidance and direction... I think that would be a very, very big aspect because some of [the youth] don't have the appropriate guidance at home."

La'Myah is a strong & resilient leader in Memphis, who has "done a lot within the community that I'm not even from." Now facing medical bills and lost income during recovery, she reminds us that "support is everything."

La'Myah is currently seeking both financial assistance through her GoFundMe campaign and housing support as she navigates her recovery.

Please consider contributing to La'Myah's GoFundMe and sharing her story. As she says, "It takes a village" – and now our village needs to step up for one of its protectors.

Finding Home: Kamora Byrd's Journey in Memphis's Tiny House Project

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 20:41:46 GMT

Finding Home

In the heart of Memphis, a groundbreaking housing initiative is transforming lives through innovative solutions to urban living. The experience of Kamora Byrd, 38, has a unique story to share about this community-centered housing approach as the first recipient of the Tiny House project.

Originally from Jackson, Mississippi, Kamora moved to Memphis at 16, eventually considering the city her true home.

" I was born in Jackson, but I was raised in Memphis ," she explains. Like many residents who have faced housing insecurity, Kamora previously lived in an apartment where she encountered challenges, including restrictions and extra costs related to having a pet.

Her path to the Tiny House project began in 2019 through a connection with her friend Chanel , who introduced her to Kayla, the project's founder. After visiting the first tiny house Kayla had built, Kamora immediately connected with the vision. " I met her at the house. I fell in love with the house. And I've been there ever since then," she shares.

More Than Just Housing

For Kamora, whose hobbies include doing hair and makeup, the tiny house represents far more than shelter—it symbolizes a first. "I never had a house. I never was raised in a house, always in apartments, so I love just being in the house," she emphasizes. This sentiment echoes throughout her story, highlighting how meaningful stable and independent housing can be for someone who hasn't previously experienced it.

The project goes beyond providing physical structures. Kayla and the My Sistah’s House resident fund helped furnish the home, supplied modern appliances, and assisted with utilities. This comprehensive approach to housing support creates a foundation for residents like Kamora to thrive rather than merely survive, and the tiny house design allows for personalization despite its compact footprint. Recognizing Kamora's passion for hair and makeup, Kayla built a shed behind the house where Kamora stores her supplies—a thoughtful addition that supports her interests and ensures she has space to explore her art.

While Kamora maintains a busy schedule that limits her community engagement, she maintains her friendship with Chanel, another tiny house resident. Their connection exemplifies how these housing communities can foster supportive relationships among residents who understand each other's journeys.

A Message of Gratitude

When asked what she would tell future tiny house residents, Kamora's response centers on appreciation: "Kayla's a good person... She does a lot for the community and she really doesn't get a lot back. So you know, if she blesses you with a house, just try to enjoy the opportunity."

Her words reflect the profound impact stable housing has had on her life and the deep gratitude she feels toward Kayla. " I just want to mention how much I love Kayla because I do love her. She's a good friend," Kamora adds, highlighting the human connection at the heart of this housing initiative. Now five years into her tiny house journey, Kamora plans to continue living in her home for the foreseeable future. Perhaps most significantly, she mentions that residents have " the option to buy the home ," transforming what began as an innovative housing solution into a pathway to homeownership and generational wealth-building.

The Tiny House project demonstrates how community-centered housing initiatives can address immediate shelter needs while creating opportunities for stability, dignity, and personal growth. Through residents like Kamora, we see the profound impact of having not just housing, but a true home.

How Executive Orders are Impacting Our Community

Mon, 17 Feb 2025 21:10:38 GMT

Critical DOJ Trans-Inclusive Policing Program Terminated, Escalating Existing Concerns on Community Safety

The Department of Justice's initiative to develop safer, more informed law enforcement interactions with transgender individuals, “Engaging and Building Relationships with Transgender Communities”, has been abruptly terminated, marking an immediate setback for police reform and community safety. Within days of My Sistah’s House being notified of this termination, all mentions of the program and its supporting materials were scrapped from the DOJ website.

This program, which engaged expert trainers like Kayla Gore of My Sistah's House, represented a vital step toward addressing documented patterns of over-policing and discriminatory practices affecting transgender individuals, particularly Black trans women. The program's elimination arrives at a particularly critical moment for Memphis and similar communities where DOJ investigations have recently identified systemic issues in policing practices. The training initiative was positioned to serve as a crucial bridge between law enforcement agencies and transgender residents, offering evidence-based protocols for respectful, constitutional interactions.

Key Program Elements Now Lost Include:

Specialized training developed by subject matter experts from the Transgender community with lived experience
Concrete protocols for ensuring dignified and lawful police interactions
Direct pathways for implementing DOJ recommendations in cities under review
Essential resources for addressing documented patterns of false arrests and detainment

The complete removal of these materials from DOJ platforms represents more than a policy shift – it eliminates vital resources that law enforcement agencies in progressive cities were actively seeking to improve community relations and ensure constitutional policing practices.

In addition to the complete elimination of this program, the housing rights of transgender and gender nonconforming people are once again being threatened. Secretary Scott Turner has directed the department of Housing and Urban Development to stop enforcing the 2016 Equal Access rule that protected the TLGBQIA+ community from discrimination or intrusive questioning when seeking housing. It remains to be seen whether Congress will support this rollback, but we're ready to jump into action and advocate for our community as soon as more details become clear.

We urge those concerned about these developments to:

Write a letter expressing your concern to the department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). You can mail it directly to HUD at the address below, or mail it to us at My Sistah’s House, and we will compile comments to submit collectively.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

451 7th Street S.W.,

Washington, DC 20410

2694 McGregor Avenue

Memphis, TN

38127

Doc ument and report incidents of policing or housing discrimination
Support local organizations continuing this vital work
Stay informed about and resist additional policy rollbacks affecting transgender communities

The sudden dismantling of this program represents a tangible setback for police reform and community safety. However, organizations like My Sistah's House remain committed to advancing the work of creating safer communities for all residents, particularly our most vulnerable neighbors.

A New Home, A New Hope: Meet Janett

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:33:48 GMT

A New Home, A New Hope

Meet Janett, a long time advocate for My Sistah’s House and one of our residents that’s made the switch from transitional housing to permanent housing through our work on #MSHTinyHomes. For years, Janett has spent quite a lot of her free time helping us as a volunteer, supporting us on social media and during our shelter period, and sharing her personal story with My Sistah’s House in Memphis. She’s truly a bright light for our team here, and her passion for helping people in need keeps us focused on our mission. To put it simply, Janett is much more than a beloved MSH resident - she’s a constant inspiration to us.

Janett’s Next Chapter

The time and love that Janett dedicates to My Sistah’s House would be stunning on its own, but becomes even more astonishing when you learn about her story. After struggling for years with kidney function, Janett had a kidney transplant that was initially successful, but later failed, requiring her to go back to dialysis treatments four times a week. This is a huge time commitment, in addition to bringing the enormous physical toll of weekly treatments.

About a year and a half ago, Janett joined us as a resident in our transitional housing program , utilizing the housing services that she had already spent so much time giving towards during a difficult time in her life. Having her own space, even though it was just a studio apartment at first, was transformative, allowing her to build her own social life outside of her family, and to conduct her dialysis treatments at home.

Recently, Janett moved into one of our beautiful & brand new tiny homes, where she’s been enjoying her permanent housing and having her own space. To her, the home means safety, security, and comfort. It gives her confidence to lean on her own independence, knowing that this home is undeniably hers. Since moving in, she’s adopted two beautiful cats, Bynx and Isabella, and they’ve become an inseparable part of her new home.

After years of supporting our work in Memphis, Janett needs OUR support now more than ever; she’s been on a waiting list for a new kidney transplant in both Tennessee and Mississippi for more than a year now. The reality of healthcare access for TNGC people in America is still far behind the standards for cisgender individuals, with over 70% of transgender people experiencing stigma and adverse interactions with health care providers.

Because we believe at the core of our work that Trans people are beautiful, strong, and deserving of every opportunity, we’re rallying beside Janett to find a donor so that she can get the lifesaving transplant she needs. Janett has an O+ blood type, so she needs a donor with the same type - and to have the best possible chance of success, she needs a transplant from a living donor. The reality of our healthcare system means that we can’t predict how long Janett may have to wait for the state to identify a donor, and she deserves so much more than that uncertainty.

Please share this story with your own community to help us find Janett’s lifesaving donor.

March 2024 Updates from MSH

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 09:42:04 GMT

Major Milestones, A Special Thank You, and Our Next Chapter

Dear Friends & Allies of MSH,

As we navigate through another pivotal year at My Sistah's House, I am continually reminded of the extraordinary progress we've made, none of which would have been possible without your unwavering support.

Today, I reach out not only to update you on our journey but to extend our deepest gratitude for your invaluable contributions. Your unwavering commitment has been the bedrock of the Tiny House Project, a beacon of hope that has transformed lives within the transgender community in Memphis. Your support has sown seeds of hope and nurtured a garden of resilience and empowerment.

We now stand at the cusp of an exhilarating opportunity that promises to mark a significant milestone in our journey with the Tiny House Project. With the gracious backing of Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris, we've commenced the construction of our 9th and 10th tiny homes.

Emboldened by this momentum, we've ambitiously set our sights on completing four more homes within the year. To bring this vision to fruition and continue the transformative work already underway, we find ourselves in need of raising an additional $50,000 by June 2024.

This target transcends mere numbers; it embodies our pledge to the LGBTQ+ community, coinciding with a month that honors our identities, struggles, and triumphs. Achieving this goal will not only conclude Phase 1 of MSH's vision but will also amplify our mission to provide sanctuary and stability for those most vulnerable.

The urgency of this call to action is magnified by the upcoming Pride Month—a period for us to reaffirm our commitment to equality, dignity, and unconditional love. By supporting this cause, you do more than just fund the construction of houses; you champion a grander vision of acceptance and belonging.

Let us continue to propel this momentum forward, crafting not merely tiny houses but a lasting legacy of love, acceptance, and community for everyone.

With the deepest appreciation and renewed hope for what we can achieve together,

Kayla Gore

Executive Director, My Sistah's House