Chicago's first LGBT-specific halfway house is seeking help in order to reach its goal to open its doors by this autumn.
People have been working hard to open the city's first LGBT-specific, sober halfway house for the past three years, said Living with Pride board president Claudia Mosier (pictured). Its organizers simply want a friendly and safe space for LGBT people to be able to focus on staying clean and sober, and nothing else.
Although there is a large LGBT recovery community in Chicago, those at Living with Pride think the community can greatly benefit from an LGBT-specific halfway house.
'You can get sober and clean in general halfway houses, but we want a place where GLBT people can go to if they just want to be around primarily GLBT folks, where there is less likelihood that they'll have to deal with any prejudices anybody else in the halfway house might have about people being GLBT,' Mosier said.
Having a friendly space is especially vital for transgender individuals seeking recovery, who may have encountered problems at general halfway houses in the past.
'Sometimes people freak out,' Mosier said. 'You might be told you can come here, but you have to dress yourself of your body gender, even if you are going through a transition.'
Living with Pride's board of directors consists of those who are in recovery, or people with an interest in the field of LGBT individuals becoming clean and sober.
'Some of them have been in halfway houses in their past recovery, so they know what it's like to be a GLBT person in a more heterosexual-based halfway house,' Mosier said.
Although the community has far more options than it used to, one of the problems LGBT seeking recovery face is how much the community continues to revolve around its bars and clubs. Living with Pride aims to help people deal with that dilemma.
'I think there are particular challenges to learning how to live sober and clean in the LGBT community,' Mosier said. 'So many of our events are alcohol-based or sponsored by bars, so learning how to be on like a softball team and learning how to negotiate what we do afterwards when everybody is going to the bar—how do we manage that and make decisions about how to stay sober and clean but remain athletically active—can be a challenge.'
Currently, the primary goal is to find the perfect home for Living with Pride.
'I could have this halfway house up and running right now if we could do it in a different neighborhood, but we're trying to save money so we can get the halfway house in a neighborhood where GLBT people don't feel like we stand out,' said Mosier.
They are looking into areas such as Lakeview or Andersonville, so those seeking recovery will feel comfortable and safe.
Although finding a welcoming space in an LGBT-heavy area is at the top of the list, Living with Pride is also focused on providing much more than a cot for its clients. 'We want to have the programs in place,' while keeping costs low for clients, Mosier said, adding that regular donations from individuals could help Living with Pride achieve that goal.
Living with Pride will hold a Spring Fling! Clean and sober dance and fundraiser on Saturday, May 3, from 8-11 p.m., at Broadway Methodist Church, 3344 N. Broadway. There is a $15 donation.
For more information or to donate, see www.livingwithpride.org .
