T-WILLOW Program

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.

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.

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.