“What makes me hopeful about the future is the freedom I have now to live as myself and build a new life."
A Chance to Breathe Again: How Immediate Cash Support Helped Asher Rebuild After Fleeing Yemen
When Asher and their partner fled Yemen, they left everything behind — their home, their community, and the life they had once imagined for themselves. “Leaving was not an easy decision,” they recalled. “But it was the only way to stay alive and have the chance to live freely as myself.”
In Yemen, being openly queer can be deadly. For Asher, a non-binary, queer person, every day was filled with fear and uncertainty. “We were being followed and threatened, and every day felt more dangerous,” they said. “In our desperation, I reached out to a Yemeni trans man who shared a link to Rainbow Railroad’s ‘Request Help’ form. That moment changed everything. It gave us a small but real sense of hope that maybe we could survive and find safety.”
Cash Support That Meant Survival
Cash Support That Meant SurvivalEven after connecting with Rainbow Railroad, Asher’s journey to safety wasn’t immediate. Before they could leave, Asher and their partner faced homelessness. “At one point, we were about to end up on the street, in a place where finding a job or any kind of assistance was impossible,” they said. “We felt completely hopeless.”
That’s when Rainbow Railroad’s cash assistance program made a life-changing difference. “We reached out to our case worker at Rainbow Railroad, and she provided the support we needed. Her help gave us stability and safety when we had nowhere else to turn.”
The funds helped Asher pay for basic necessities — housing, food, and daily living costs — at a time when safety was fragile and opportunities were scarce. “The support we received helped us cover housing and our household expenses. It meant we had a safe place to stay, food to eat, and stability during one of the hardest times in our lives,” Asher said. “Without that support, we would have ended up in the streets of a queer-phobic place.”
Building Stability in Canada
When Asher finally arrived in Canada, they found freedom — but also new challenges. Like many newcomers, they faced high living costs, limited income, and the stress of starting over in an unfamiliar country. That’s where another lifeline, Rainbow Railroad’s Housing and Livelihood Assistance Fund (HLAF), came in.
“Because of the HLAF grant, I was able to pay off a portion of my credit card debt, which I had used to cover my rent from the previous month,” Asher said. “The financial assistance we receive from the federal government isn’t enough to meet all basic needs, so this support helped me catch up and breathe a little easier.”
For Asher, this relief wasn’t just financial — it was transformative. “Rainbow Railroad not only helped me survive but also gave me the chance to start over, to live freely, and to dream about a future again,” they said. “Their support changed my life completely. It gave me safety when I had none and hope when I was losing it. It gave me the stability and dignity I needed to rebuild myself. Without their help, I don’t think I would have made it this far.
From Fear to Freedom
Now in Canada, Asher is beginning to heal. They describe queer liberation as “living without fear — the freedom to exist, to love, and to express myself without hiding who I am.”
“What makes me hopeful about the future is the freedom I have now to live as myself and build a new life,” they shared. “I’m surrounded by people who accept me for who I am, and that gives me strength. I’m also hopeful when I see more people standing up for LGBTQ+ rights around the world. It reminds me that change is possible.”
Asher knows that the path to safety and freedom starts with compassion — and immediate, tangible support. “Without the cash assistance and HLAF grant, I don’t know how I would have managed to stay safe or keep a roof over my head,” they said. “You’re not just helping with money. You’re giving people like me a chance to rebuild, to feel human again, and to believe in a better future.”
Compassion Knows No Borders
Across the world, thousands of LGBTQI+ people like Asher are facing violence and persecution simply for being themselves. Many have no access to shelter, food, or basic safety — and are waiting for help that can’t come soon enough.