Financial Assistance for Transgender People
Whether it is the cost associated with getting a legal name change; gender affirming garments or prosthetics; gender-appropriate clothing; housing; food or other expenses; the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project recognizes there is a need temporary financial assistance for transgender people.
To address this problem, we offer gender-diverse people the opportunity to apply for monetary grants to help with certain of these costs.
Legal Name Change Micro Grants
We want to reduce financial barriers for transgender Pennsylvanians seeking to have their legal identity match their true identity.
- Each year EPTEP offers a limited number of monetary grants to transgender people in our service area.
- We provide grants to residents of Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Montgomery, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wayne, Pike, Carbon, Columbia, Schuylkill, Bradford, Wyoming, Montour, Northumberland, Lebanon, Sullivan, Tioga, Susquehanna, Lycoming, Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Perry, Snyder, Union, and York County in Pennsylvania. Please note that not all programs are available in all counties.
- Grants may cover the full or partial costs associated with court fees, background checks, advertising, and fees for new ID documents such as PA driver’s license.
Transition Apparel Microgrants
We understand the importance of being able to present in the gender with which you identify. Doing so is a matter of safety and mental health. Yet FTM binders and packers or MTF breast forms or gaffs can be expensive and are subject to wear and tear.
- Each year EPTEP offers a limited number of monetary grants to transgender people in our service area for the purchase of gender-affirming garments or prostheses.
- Grants may cover the full or partial costs associated with these purchases and may require the grantee to use a specific vendor.
- We provide grants to residents of Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Montgomery, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wayne, Pike, Carbon, Columbia, Schuylkill, Bradford, Wyoming, Montour, Northumberland, Lebanon, Sullivan, Tioga, Susquehanna, Lycoming, Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Perry, Snyder, Union, and York County in Pennsylvania. Please note that not all programs are available in all counties.
Food Assistance
No one should ever go hungry! Transgender people are challenged by high rates of unemployment and underemployment. The result is that many have to make a choice between going hungry or paying the rent.
- If you are hungry and are having difficulty securing food, EPTEP wants to help by providing you with grocery store gift cards.
- Food assistance is available to transgender people and the parents of transgender children in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas.
- We provide grants to residents of Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Montgomery, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wayne, Pike, Carbon, Columbia, Schuylkill, Bradford, Wyoming, Montour, Northumberland, Lebanon, Sullivan, Tioga, Susquehanna, Lycoming, Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Perry, Snyder, Union, and York County in Pennsylvania. Please note that not all programs are available in all counties.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are your grant programs?
We offer financial assistance for transgender people via small grants to assist them with the cost of legal name change and getting their identification documents updated with the accurate name and/or gender marker. We also offer small grants to assist with the purchase of gender-affirming prosthetics and garments as well as for emergency food assistance.
Who can apply for a grant?
Currently we offer financial grants to residents of Lehigh, Northampton, Monroe, Montgomery, Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wayne, Pike, Carbon, Columbia, Schuylkill, Bradford, Wyoming, Montour, Northumberland, Lebanon, Sullivan, Tioga, Susquehanna, Lycoming, Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Perry, Snyder, Union, and York County in Pennsylvania. Some grants may be limited to a single county. We hope that we will be able to assist residents of other Pennsylvania counties in the future.
What does Eastern PA Trans Equity Project not do?
We cannot offer legal support or advice and we cannot file paperwork for you. We will not purchase gender-affirming garments or prosthetics on your behalf.
What kinds of documents do name change grants cover?
Currently we offer grants for court ordered name change petitions and filings, publication fees, and identification documents. Grants may be made for the full projected amount of your name change costs or for a partial amount.
What does the application process look like, and what is the wait time?
Applications are reviewed on a first come-first served basis. The application, will ask for some basic info about yourself, your income, how we should get in touch with you, and what you are looking for assistance with. Please click this link to access our application.
Once I fill out an application, what does the process look like?
Once you submit your application, it goes into a database and is assigned to a volunteer that will review the application. If there is a need for any clarification, the volunteer will be in contact with you. If your application is approved you will receive your grant shortly thereafter.
What types of payment methods do you offer for grants?
We are currently able to send along grants in the form of check, Venmo, or PayPal.