This year, Tony's Place is being honored by the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.
Staff at Tony’s place is set out to make a difference in the lives of many young people. Executive director Carrie Rai said her clients are diverse and come to Tony’s Place looking for direction.
“At different stages of their lives, we serve youth between the ages of 14 and 25. Youth may be out to their family, their friends. They may not be,” Rai said.
No matter what, staff is there to help.
“We want to connect them to those resources that's going to help them be successful and support them at the same time,” said Rai.
Clients in between homes can do laundry, take a shower, get free clothes, toiletries and fresh food.
Also, Tony's Place has a new therapeutic garden recently donated by volunteers. This is where clients can plant and grow herbs and vegetables to add to their meals.
Connecting people to housing resources is a service offered there, too.
“What drives me are those small moments with clients. So, the other day, I had a client came in walk through the door and they say Miss Carrie and just held up their keys. It gives me goosebumps just now just thinking about it. They got housed. They got their own place,” Rai said.
Tony’s place was founded in 2016, with the vision to at first serve homeless LGBTQ+ young people after their founder therapist Tony Carroll passed away.
“Him and his husband were passionate about the youth in the community," Rai said.
It has since transformed into so much more with the help of several community partners like the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.
“At the end of 2023, they, coordinated the largest supply drive in our organization's history,” said Rai.
A youth art program called, Crafter Pride, was launched to feed creative minds.
“We bring in different LGBTQ+ artists to share their craft, with high school students, university students. Where they could just learn a new skill,” said Rai.
Some of that art includes written work, which program manager Alyssa Kelly shared with us.
“Dancing with the stars as the wind dances,” Kelly said.
One of her clients who doesn’t want to be named wrote this poem.
“Butterflies’ dances in the moonlight and the stars shooting across the galaxy. Queen walks on water as the moonlight shines in the wind blows,” Kelly said.
A place to dance, draw, plant, re-group and just be free, that’s what Tony’s place wants to be for any and everyone.
“We welcome you. We want to be your cheerleader,” Rai said.
Tony's Place is creating a safe space for those still trying to figure it out.