

Collective Hope Coalition seeks to address and reduce risk factors that cause hopelessness and leads to suicide within the LGBTQ+ community.
Collective Hope Coalition seeks to address and reduce risk factors that cause hopelessness and leads to suicide within the LGBTQ+ community.
Source: The Trevor Project
Source: National LGBT Health Education Center
Source: Center for Disease Control
Source: National LGBT Health Education Center
Collective Hope Coalition (CHC) was formed as an initiative of Dallas Hope Charities (DHC) due to the alarming statistics regarding suicide among the LGBTQIA+ community. Because of the minimal resources available in the Dallas area to address this issue, DHC knew something had to be done to bring about positive change.
The only initiative of its kind in the Dallas, Texas community; we are creating effective and lasting solutions for our LGBTQIA+ community. This issue must be addressed and we, as a community, need to do much more to reduce the factors and eliminate the hopelessness that leads to suicide in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Through collaboration, focused strategies, unified goals, and successful implementation we are creating positive change. Each sector of the community is working together to tackle the various risk factors, as well as identify and provide resources that are beneficial in addressing these life-altering ideations, and ultimately reducing life-ending results.
Source: UCLA Williams Institute
Source: UCLA Williams Institute
Source: UCLA Williams Institute
Source: UCLA Williams Institute
Source: UCLA Williams Institute
Collective Hope Coalition (CHC), established in 2020, strives to serve as a resource hub that creates change and fulfills the basic needs of Dallas LGBTQIA+ community members through coalition meetings, member workshops, and more.
Collective Hope Coalition operates as a network of LGBTQ serving organizations, developing relationships and camaraderie with the common goal of creating positive change for the Dallas LGBTQ community.
We work to connect LGBTQ people in need with resources whether through email requests, at the request of other community organizations, or hosting events that bring resources directly to the community. We also bring the community into the conversation regarding social change through programming such as our Pride Panel events.
Collective Hope Coalition strives to serve as a resource hub that creates change and fulfills the basic needs of Dallas LGBTQIA+ community members.
Fulfilling food and housing needs, in addition to sharing action items that can help reduce LGBTQ disparities
Sharing services, information, and actions that can reduce LGBTQ suicide and other mental health issues, including challenges stemming from trauma
Providing and promoting LGTBQ competent medical and STI care/prevention services to those who have little to no income, are uninsured, or are HIV+
Providing resources, social and educational spaces for youth and their family who are LGBT+ or Questioning
Creating positive social change for LGBTQ people living in Dallas through services, information, or actions.
Every Quarter, our printable resource guide is updated and distributed to our Dallas Hope Center residents, through the Hope On The Move serving sites, as well as our Collective Hope Coalition members. It is free to download and distribute as needed.
23
CHC Mixer
29
Coalition Meeting (Hybrid)
23
29
Chip in for Hope
Lunch N’ Learn (Hybrid)
13
23
31
Resource Fair
Safe Place Workshop
Coalition Meeting (Hybrid)
23
Pride Panel with Dallas Contemporary
3-7
26
DHC Office Closure
Coalition Meeting (Hybrid)
17
Member Mixer
12
27
Safe Place Workshop
Coalition Meeting (Hybrid)
20
25
Pride Panel with Dallas Contemporary
Lunch N’ Learn (Hybrid)
11-19
29
Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week
Coalition Meeting (Hybrid)
19-Jan 1
DHC Office Closure
Interested in becoming a member to #EndHopelessness and #CreateChange.
Our Resources page lists community organizations with focuses including housing, food insecurity, medical and mental health, and LGBTQ issues.
DONATE HOPE
Every dollar helps distribute LGBTQ+ suicide prevention resources to the community.
RESOURCE GUIDE TRANSLATOR
We are currently looking for translators of multiple languages to translate our resource guide on a quarterly basis.
SHOP FOR HOPE
Our Amazon wishlists include items that our program are hoping to help further our mission to provide Hope For All. In addition, Amazon will donate 0.5% when you shop on smile.amazon.com.
Housing Program Manager
jtorres@dallashopecharities.
Biography
Jordan Rodriguez Torres joined the Dallas Hope Charities team in the summer of 2023 to become more involved with the LGBTQIA+ community. They have a passion for helping others and have been able to assist with a variety of individuals including special education programs in school districts, caregiving for geriatrics in assisted living facilities, foster care, and The Department of Family and Protective Services.
Jordan has a background in behavior management and received a BS in Applied Behavioural Analysis from Purdue Global. Their partner has experienced homelessness in the past, thus Jordan has a drive to assist those in the LGBTQIA+ community so that the impact of homelessness can have a lessened effect on them. They are committed to serving Dallas Hope Charities housing program by helping it grow and thrive amidst this political climate.
Jordan was born an Airforce Brat, as others would call it, in England and have lived in several states in North America before settling in Texas. When they are not growing DHC’s housing program, you can find them playing Magic: The Gathering at their favorite game stores, or at home with their partners and dogs, playing video games, board games, or watching anime.
Board Chair
Biography
Before being asked to serve as the Board Chairman, Rex had been a member of Dallas Hope Charities’ board since April 2021. A recurring investor in media and emerging technologies, Rex seems to prefer working behind the scenes. He has consistently poured his resources into companies, individuals, charitable organizations, and civic causes alike out of his love for the city of Dallas and heart for serving the community.
He envisions the role of board chair as primarily a supportive one. Rex sees Dallas Hope Charities’ CEO, Tamika Perry, as a strong leader and looks forward to working closely with her on expanding the transitional housing program and various programmatic partnerships.
Addressing the recent renovation of the Hope Center—DHC’s transitional living center—Rex stated “the hope is we’ve renovated a place where our participants can really get a firm footing, get involved in the programs that we offer, and have a great launching pad for their lives.
Rex knows firsthand the impact that a safe, affirming house can provide. For over 20 years he and his partner Chris personally opened their home to folks in need of a place. Through word of mouth and referrals, Rex and Chris provided housing and mentorship while the individuals went through school, securing a profession, or simply stabilizing their life. Reflecting on it, Rex’s smile continues to grow, and you can sense the support and affection he must have for these friends, mentees and in some cases, chosen family.
When asked why he freely gives so much of his time and energy, Rex puts it simply: “I care about the impact we can make in a life and our city by what we do.” While Rex shares that his family was supportive when he came out as gay, there were still identity struggles to contend with, so his care runs deep in lived experience. “I care about the fact that some of our LGBTQ+ community is suffering. I’ve been there. It’s very difficult to know that we have human beings that are struggling with the kinds of things they are, and you really want the best for them, quickly. Sometimes it takes longer than expected so we must have patience.”
When Rex and his partner Chris find downtime, they enjoy family, travel, gathering with friends, attending artistic events, and eating out at locally owned restaurants. Naturally, everything comes back to community.
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