Thank You!
Your solidarity matters
Our community is under attack, and we refuse to go down without a fight. In 2025, we have seen:
The ability to seek asylum at the border terminated. Folks already in the US or who have traveled here on an often hard-to-get visa can still apply.
A new $100 asylum application fee. This was previously free.
A new $550 initial work permit application fee. This was previously free.
A new annual $100 fee while their asylum case is pending. There was previously no fee, and the average case duration is 4+ years.
We are committed to helping reduce the barriers to folks seeking asylum and getting their work permits. As a result of these new fees and despite a 16% reduction in LGBTQ asylum seekers reaching out to us for support this year, we expect our expenses to increase by approximately $20,000.
Your support is more crucial than ever. Thank you for standing with us!
Housing Requests (2024-2025)
Over the past few years, we have seen a steady increase in the number of folks reaching out to us for housing support. This need has outweighed our capacity to provide direct housing. However, we have answered every request and have been able to direct folks to temporary housing options nationwide, while they await a more suitable spot in our housing.
Annual Housing Requests
During the pandemic, we saw a doubling of the number of LGBTQ asylum seekers requesting housing. This has placed a strain on our available resources — housing and financial. To mitigate against these effects, we have been creative in identifying temporary accommodations and making investments toward reducing our monthly expenses in certain key areas. We have also made an effort to increase our visibility and garner more support from folks like you.
Top Countries of Origin (2024)
Self-identification (2024)
Historically, we have received the most requests for housing and connection to resources from LGBTQ asylum seekers from either Jamaica or Uganda. While conditions for LGBTQ people continue to be horrible in approximately 60 countries, there are established networks in both of these countries that list the Task Force as a possible source of assistance through the asylum process.
Congruent with the increase in the number of asylum seekers that we have directly housed is the tripling of our average monthly expenses over the past six years. It currently costs us over $55,000 per month to provide housing and other support to LGBTQ asylum seekers. This averages out to $1,400 per person per month. We have been able to reduce our monthly expenses through strategic steps towards greater efficiency and sustainability in all that we do.
Monthly Expenses
Individual Donors
Number of Donations
During the same time that we were experiencing a doubling of LGBTQ asylum seekers contacting us for help, there was a reduction in the total number of individual donors and donations. Despite our strained finances, we connected each asylum seeker to needed resources and maintained our 100% asylum grant, stable housing, and employment rates.
In 2023, we strategically increased our outreach efforts, which bore fruit in the significant increase in the total number of donors and donations we received. However, we saw a 10% reduction in those figures in 2024. Much more is needed in order for us to have the capacity to support the continued increase in requests for support. We appreciate any help that you can provide to further this goal.