Creating Access to Resources and Economic Support

Creating Access to Resources and Economic Support

The goal of this study is to test the ability of small grants and/or peer support to improve mental health among transgender people experiencing material hardship. The main questions the study will answer are:

1. Do microgrants with or without peer mentoring improve mental health?
2. Do microgrants with or without peer mentoring improve mental health by reducing material hardship and/or increasing a sense of community connection?

Researchers will compare mental health outcomes among three groups of participants:

A. Participants who receive one small grant and monthly financial education videos B. Participants who receive a small grant every month and monthly financial education videos for a total of 6 months.

C. Participants who receive a small grant every month, peer mentoring support, and monthly financial education videos for a total of 6 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age 18 years or older
• gender identity different from sex assigned on original birth certificate
• access to a mobile phone or email
• score > 0 on the material hardship index

Exclusion Criteria:

• inability to provide informed consent in English