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Well, I don't know if it's because winter is ending...finally, or that my relationship is entering an exciting new phase, or what, but I'm feeling better, and my muse is talking.
I have had, in my mind, a dream, of a place...a haven if you will, where mistreated, abused, whatever T-girls could go to be sheltered, loved, and helped. It's been in my mind for years, and I know I'm not the only one who dreams of such a place.
I've decided that, since I can't set one up in real life, I can at least try to do it in virtual life. So...
I will set the place up. Location, physical descriptions, beginning staff, aims, resources, etc. I'll post it all in the form of a story. What I'd like, what I'd LOVE is for all of you to write your own story to include in this shared universe. The rules will be simple, as befits the creator of this thing...me! LOL
I'd like all stories written for this universe to go through me before being posted, so I can keep the whole thing on track. With all the incredibly talented authors out there, I expect to get some amazing stories for this thing, and I want to try to keep everything canon, so it all fits together like a fine piece of needlework.
I WELCOME input from whoever wants to give it, or whoever wants to help. I'm certain I don't have everything thought out or covered. The tentative title for this place will be:
The Home That Love Built.
So many of us have been beaten down, lost friends, family, jobs, relationships. So many have been physically abused, and so forth. This place would be a haven for those who have seemingly lost everything and need a place to recover and get their lives back on track, in an atmosphere of love and support.
I want to stress that this is not just MY dream. I know it's shared by many, many of us out there, but to do it right, so it smacks of reality, I need and welcome your help.
Post your opinions here as comments, and I will contact whoever, as needed for more details if they are needed.
For me, this is a pretty ambitious undertaking, and I know I'll need the help of every one of you who want to participate, so thank you, in advance. More will follow as I get closer to completing the first story and the details and rules.
Huggles 'n love from,
Catherine Linda Michel
Comments
Great Idea Catherine! "The House That Love Built"
"Love's The Only House"
I'm looking forward to reading the efforts when this gets rolling.
Angel
"Be Your-Self, So Easy to Say, So Hard to Live!"
"Be Your-Self, So Easy to Say, So Hard to Live!"
Great Opportunity
I think this is a great opportunity to write some very positive, feel good stories. HHH and I briefly corresponded about the real life needs for this. :) Portia
Portia
The House
I was thinking about what kind of checking the in process procedure. Obviously someone who knows how the whole web of social services, and all the other things one needs to get re-established after moving or other life changing events. An on-site medical person who can take care of first aid but also has a listing of the kind of medical services girls need.
I can see this place having a swap closet where girls trade stuff they don't need anymore.
Can't think of anything else right now.
hugs!
grover
As Portia mentioned, I did discuss this with her, and
I have discussed it with a a number of others here and elsewhere,
Catherine was one of the first I mentioned it to, quite some time back.
I estimate to do what I'd like to do would take about US$150,000,000 to make it self sustaining, because of the tax laws on investments and non-profits in this country.
And that is without a big stock market slide ( that's NEVER going to happen, right?)
Ideas, folks. So far I haven't seen anything that we haven't talked about, and there are a few other things I think need to be included. But I'm sure between everyone, we can come up with a few more.
I'll make up a list of some of the things Catherine and shalimar and I have come up with.
All we need is for one of us to hit Powerball or Megamillions or one of the other lotteries for around 200 million ...
It’s not given to anyone to have no regrets; only to decide, through the choices we make, which regrets we’ll have,
David Weber – In Fury Born
Holly
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
Holly
A follow-on to my previous comment.
Shalimar and I just sat down and separately came up with lists based on what we have discussed in the past, then combined them.
Here is what we came up with.
We need a better name than clients, or individuals, and definitely NOT 'patients'.
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We need a place for the individual and a possible “opponent†(*Note 5) where they could communicate safely.
Full time staff - minimum
Manager
2 or 3 front office staff to handle day to day operations around the clock, and control access –
3 people with advanced first aid or higher medical training “Note 1
3 people with advanced emergency therapy training * Note 1
Part time staff
Hired maids, etc, who would help with day to day operation, but would not need to be full time.
Therapist(s) *Note 3
MD/Endocrinologist(s) * Note 3
Primary physical plant includes 3+ acres of land – in a large metropolitan area.
(Land would include private secure parking and outdoor recreation areas)
x# of Staff apartments
20 or more client apartments/homes, from 1 bedroom to 3 or 4 bedroom
( as we would want to be able to help those whose families/SOs may be
accepting, or willing/wanting to learn ).
( also, clients could share IF they agreed )
2 or 3 or more social activity areas- might be able to open into one large area –
would include space for community meals.
Would be usable for in-house training * Note 4
Kitchen capable of regular and special diets, including such things as full Kosher meals.
( The kitchen could be used for a public café, if we wanted to staff it )
Salon for makeovers, hair, etc – could be public, w a separate area for staff and clients.
TG boutique open to outside TG/TS community, including a locker club area.
Office or offices for therapy staff – could be part time
Office or offices for part time MD/endocrinology staff
Should be near good public transportation, OR staff to include drivers for van?
Should be reasonably near occupational training centers of several types of training * Note 2
Aux physical plant
Kitchen/ salon/ other public spaces, maybe a small strip shopping center across the front.
Clients could work there to earn money and get a feeling of worth.
Space for pets, ( cats, dogs, and small animals
Other Activities
Clearing house for information on TG/TS issues, library of info, referrals outside otf the local area - as wide a s possible.
Would be a 'safe place' for local community LGBTQs
*Note 1 – these could be the front office staff.
*Note 2. Many in the community have been under stress because of TG, which has caused them to get less than a great education. They need more education to get a good job, and a good job to afford training, Otherwise they might have to work two jobs just to survive. Help would be given to get a GED, or specialized training. Some training might be paid for after the clients return to the community at large.
*Note 3 it might be possible to provide a full time office for 2 or more, to have someone on call/available more of the time, but they would need to be able to run a full time practice going beyond our needs.
Medical/therapy would include dealing with the ‘usual’ issues, plus dealing with and understanding the special needs of individuals such as “Little Kids’, and special ongoing non-emergency medical situations.
*Note 4 – training would include learning to pass and present in the new gender.
*Note 5 – opponents could be family who are fighting what the client wants to do.
Outside resources –
Good connections with police, social services, and good lawyer(s) to handle legal issues.
Other resources would include eventual help in receiving medical help including both facial reconstruction as needed, and full SRS.
Connections to handle drug addition, AIDS, and other life threatening situations on site or connections with local agencies.
Connections with religious institutions that are transgender friendly both for religious advice and services.
Connections with the surrounding community.
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Take it and run with it, folks
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
Holly
If
If such a place existed it would have both friends and enemies. I would count myself as a friend, and we all know the usual suspects for enemies. There would even be surprises on both lists I suspect. The base concept is a sweet thought though.
Friends would require screening though. They could be a valuable resource for day to day resources, or at least offer the possibility of such. I suspect a lot of them would be like me, people who are on the fringes and want to help.
Grover pointed this out to me with one of his stories.