okay here goes

[Shadowneya]

Well I couldn't figure out where this should go... so I figured It might go here...

Last night I left the woman I have been with for 11 years... it happened after I asked her if she could respect me as a woman... her mouth said yes but the daggers in her eyes told the truth... So now I am homeless in Chicago... I have had 3 strikes at local shelters one is closed one is closed for remodel... and the other is a drug rehab prog now... I am cold scared and confused... I am starting to wonder at the intelligence of my decision... but... I have no choice now... I can never go back... I found Center on Halsted it is a resource center gay's lesbian's and transgender I have an appointment for sept. 11th.. but if i cannot find a place to sleep i won't last that long... please pray for me... i have my hope... but that only lasts so long... i gotta stop crying i am in public... and half the people think i am a guy... well physically i am but... my emotions don't match... please help me hope...

[suzifrommd]

Definitely hope. Things will get better and you won't always feel this way. You have the triple whammy of breaking up, being homeless and transgender dysphoria at the same time. Things will not always be this bad.

Place to turn:
* If you have a friend you can trust, contact them now. If not, but you have a friend who you might be able to trust, give them a chance to step up. Ditto family.
* If you belong to a church/synagogue/religious institution, contact your clergy person. If not, consider going to one of the liberal congregations (Unitarian, UCC, Episcopal, Reform or Reconstructionist Jewish) and see whether someone there can help.
* Is there a drop-in center in your city? If you can find one, try to go there.
* If you can find a crisis hotline, call.

Good luck Shadowneya. I'm thinking about you.

[Shadowneya]

Actually I just found out there is a shelter her for women that accepts Female-Identified individuals... I freaked out though... I walked up to the bathrooms here at Center on Halsted are Gender Identified... I freaked... i went into the mens bathroom... I dun know if I am ready for that yet... they are very understanding

[Penny Gurl]

Ok as we are kinda in a similar situation in the same city.. sort of.. look into howard brown on Sheridan, they are also in with the center on Halstead.  But Howard Brown is a clinic centered around LGBT and they may have some resources for you and could possibily point you in the right direction.  Everyone there has been a huge help.  I fully understand what it's like to leave the one you're with and not have a home to go to.  Since June first I left my wife of four years, I couldn't stay with someone who I knew couldn't give me the support that I needed.  Since then I've been either living out of my camper at local campgrounds or spending the night in my truck.  All the pain will be worth it in the end, because honestly sometimes we can't rise to our fullest potential with out knowing our lowest bottom.  My hopes are with you and keep us posted. I 'live' in the Chicago area and am very familar with how unforgiving the city can be at times.

[Shadowneya]

yep they gave me that resource too... but everyone gives me phone numbers i have no phone... I have a laptop.. Art Supplies, 3DS that will not connect to anything and an IPod... I am really glad they let me use thier Cyber Center... i can't even get a connect for my laptop since i can't find an outlet anywhere in boys town...

[Penny Gurl]

If you're in the city Howard Brown is a block away from the red line.. I'm not too sure what they could do for you as a walk in, but like I said, it could be a good place to start.  I know thay they always ask if I have a safe place when I go in for my check ups.