Why donate to the Queer Relief Fund?

When the Covid-19 Pandemic hit in March 2020, many businesses, offices, and jobs of all kinds were shut down, temporarily and permanently, or changed in many different ways. Half way through April, it was clear that government aid was not enough for some, and would, in some cases intentionally, be non-existent for the most systemically oppressed. The Newburgh LGBTQ Center shifted programing and funds by May to launch our Queer Relief Fund. Since May 2020, we have granted over $17,000 to over 90 people received grants at levels of $50, $100 and $200, 14 received additional follow up grants at the $200 level and a 4 have received a third round grants, also at the $200 level. 

Intentionally, we made the google form to apply as simple and as straightforward as to not be a barrier in itself to people applying for relief. This was also a common point of positive feedback from follow up interviews. 

Our scoring prioritized QTBIPOC, undocumented folks as we know they were least likely to get assistance from governments or other institutions. The three categories for scoring were Intersections of identity, necessity and whether or not the grant level applied for was an appropriate grant level. These categories helped us determine if a person was likely to face systemic bias in receiving other forms of aid, and understand what it would go towards.

Queer Relief Fund Statistics

  • Over 2/3rds of the people who applied were BIPOC

  • A quarter of our applicants were unable to get relief from the government, due to immigration status. 

  • More than half of our applicants reported that they were housing insecure.

  • More than three quarters of our applicants reported losing part or all of their income due to the pandemic, as well as being in danger of not being able to cover the cost of basic needs. 


Testimonials

“I ended up using it to help buy a car to get to work”

“It helped me to be able to buy some food, some medicines and pay part of my rent.”

“The first round of funding helped to keep me from having my lights shut off before there were any utilities mandate. It also helped me get life sustaining medication at a time that I lost my insurance due to losing my job.”

“The first round of funding helped me to pay my rent and to get groceries and basic necessities”