January 17. Founded in October 2022 by Erin Shelton, Morgan Wood, and Cassidy Thompson, Project Rainbow is a grassroots organization based in Monongalia County dedicated to providing support, resources, and housing to LGBT homeless people in West Virginia. This goal was furthered by the organization's opening of West Virginia's first shelter for LGBTQ+ people, The Rainbow House.
While working at a low-cost clinic, Shelton, Wood and Thompson met Amber Blackwater, the woman who became the inspiration for Project Rainbow. After witnessing the obstacles and harassment Blackwater faced because of their gender identity while seeking resources and temporary shelter, Project Rainbow was created to help people from the LGBTQ+ community facing similar circumstances. Today, Blackwater serves on the board of directors of Project Rainbow and contributes to the organization's efforts to provide safe resources for other members of the LGBTQ+ community experiencing housing instability.
Thanks to fundraising, donations from local businesses, and overall community support, Project Rainbow is now ready to celebrate the grand opening of The Rainbow House, the first temporary shelter for the LGBTQ+ community in the Mountain State.
“Seeing the outpouring of support and love from the community has been really uplifting, not only for the council members, but for all the homeless gay people who come here,” Thompson said. “It means a lot to all of us that the community wants us here.”
Rainbow House is a shelter for LGBTQ+ homeless people who receive support, compassion, and safety regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. To create a comfortable and social environment, the shelter is designed like a home and has common areas such as a kitchen and dining room, as well as private rooms with multiple beds. The location of the shelter will not be disclosed to the public to ensure the safety of clients.
“It is a temporary refuge, but also a place where you can find solace and love. Many people who come to us and have already come to us have felt unloved and rejected because of their sexual orientation and gender identity,” Thompson said. It is sent to your home and is intended to be used and will help you understand the structure of your home. We know what's wrong with us.
A study by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law found that sexual and gender minorities disproportionately experience housing instability, with 17 percent of sexual minority adults reporting that they have been homeless at some point in their lives. More than twice the rate of research in the general population.
In addition to providing transitional housing, The Rainbow House offers a wide range of resources to help each client find long-term housing solutions, mental health support, gender affirmation treatment, transition assistance, employment and more. Those in need of housing can apply on Project Rainbow's website - ProjectRainbowWV.com - and will be contacted by the organization's admissions team to begin finding solutions tailored to the client's needs.
Volunteers are trained in trauma-informed care, de-escalation strategies, harm reduction, and naloxone training to provide clients of all backgrounds with high-quality support. People interested in volunteering with Project Rainbow can apply on the organization's website.
To celebrate the grand opening of the Rainbow House, Project Rainbow will host a party at 123 Pleasant St. on Wednesday at 7 p.m. This will be an all ages event with live music, comments from board members and Project Rainbow merchandise for sale. Tickets are $10 at the door or at 123 Pleasant Street at 123plesantstreet.com. Musical guests include Haley, The Hardway, Cam Thomas, Velvet Rutt and Soul Pantry.
For more information about Project Rainbow and Rainbow House or to donate to the organization's causes, visit ProjectRainbowWV.com or the Facebook page at Facebook.com /ProjectRainbowWV/.
“It was really nice to be recognized and approved by our community,” Thompson said. “It was really rewarding to be able to build something from the ground up to help the underserved community at the shelter.”
