The brown and white tiled building stands at the end of a lane in
Chetpet. Clothes are drying on a line outside and a brightly-coloured,
hand-made sign proclaims that the building is dedicated to transgenders.
Inside, a large room opens out on the right, where several residents
are gathered. Some have gone out, likely for work.

The city’s
first night shelter for transgenders, which was opened a month and a
half ago by the Chennai Corporation and is run by the NGO SIP Memorial
Trust, already has 25 residents, its full capacity. The shelter is a
welfare-to-work initiative, a half-way house where transgenders who have
trouble finding accommodation and gainful employment can stay
temporarily, and during which time receive vocational training so they
can get jobs, become self-sustaining and move on.

Spurned by families

Sitting
on a mat with others, J. Kalaivani, one of the residents, talks about
an issue that many in the transgender community face — lack of
acceptance from their families. “I have not spoken to my parents in
three years. I’m in touch with a few relatives, but even if I call my
parents, they do not pick up,” said the 32-year-old.

Others have
similar stories: K. Kanimozhi’s family told her that she can come home
only on the condition that she dresses as a man. With a diploma in
electrical technology, Kanimozhi is now looking for a job. P. Sumithra,
who said she has a B.Tech degree, saw her family last year, but only
because of her brother’s wedding. “I had to dress as a man to take part
in the function,” she said, distressed.

She, like some of the
others at the home, is looking for a job. In the meantime, she is
dependent on “collections”. “We can change our lives with a job,” said
Ms. Kalaivani.

If forced to leave their parental homes, many in
the transgender community find it difficult to get accommodation for
rent — Ms. Sumithra said landlords charged them higher rates than
normal, and even if they did get homes, they are often unable to keep up
with the rent since they don’t have steady jobs. “This home is very
useful for us — it is comfortable, the neighbours are social, and the
locality is good,” said Sumithra, adding, “There should be more such
homes across the State.”

The shelter — the only one for
transgenders — is one of 47 run by the Corporation in the city for
various groups of people. In 2012, the Corporation Council passed a
resolution to rope in NGOs to run the shelters. The residents at the
transgender shelter are from different parts of the State and stay for
varying lengths — S. Raghavi, for instance, is from Hosur and came with a
friend. “They can stay here for four months, until they are back on
their feet. We are helping with their rehabilitation and with employment
opportunities,” said N. Manoj, a social worker with the NGO that runs
the home. Jaya Devi, trustee of the NGO, said skill training will be
provided as per their interests in a month’s time. This will include
courses for beauticians and in embroidery and fashion design. She said
that one resident had already found a job and is going to move out.

More may be built

Last
year, the State government allotted 236 tenements to transgenders in
Tiruvottiyur. While the residents said this was a good move, not all
members of the community have been housed there, and the distance from
the city is a hindrance, they said.

Some came to know about the
Chetpet shelter through word-of-mouth and took residence there. Anjali,
an only child too, was not accepted by her family. She heard about the
shelter from others in the community and arrived a week ago. The
21-year-old is on dialysis twice a week, and is struggling financially.

The
shelter attempts to offer a home atmosphere for the residents. On
Tuesday morning, there was dosa for breakfast and fish curry for lunch.
While the Corporation provides provisions for dinner, the other two
meals are sponsored by charitable or other organisations.

The
building, however, has several problems, said Jaya Devi, trustee of the
SIP Memorial Trust. There is no compound wall and anti-socials often
drink and create a ruckus around the building, she said, adding that
they had a sent a letter to the Corporation requesting the building of a
wall. There is also no Metrowater facility. “Some of our residents work
as cooks and security guards. We need the Corporation to provide these
basic amenities. We worked for five years to get this home opened by the
Corporation — there was a huge need for it, but it took a while. Also,
this building can only house 25 residents. We had wanted one with space
for 50,” she said.

A Corporation official said residents would be
rehabilitated in four to six months depending on their skills. Regarding
opening more such shelters, he said that would depend on the success of
the Chetpet shelter.