At the heart of Haus of Transcendent’s (HOT) work is a simple but powerful belief: healthcare and social services should meet people where they are physically, linguistically, and culturally. Guided by this principle, HOT connects LGBTQI2S+ individuals with access to behavioral and physical health care and other essential social resources through its newly launched community health worker (CHW) role.
Central to its holistic case management program, the CHW plays a critical part in identifying and addressing the social drivers of health and is supported through a grant from TAF. And as a care coordination agency of the Better Health Pathways Hub, the work of HOT’s CHW expands its impact, strengthens care coordination, and reduces harm for the LGBTQI2S+ individuals and allies the organization serves.
HOT’s strength is rooted in the multicultural and multilingual people behind the work, including its staff, leadership, board members, and more than 90 volunteers who are members of the communities they serve. This lived experience is not merely a value-add; it is an essential piece of shaping programs that are authentic, responsive, and grounded in the realities of those most impacted by systemic inequities. Guided by a partnership-first approach that complements existing efforts rather than duplicating them, HOT fills critical gaps in services and resources to ensure the unique needs of LGBTQI2S+ individuals and allies are met through culturally competent, community-driven care.
HOT’s collaboration with the Cuyahoga County Board of Health’s Ending the HIV Epidemic effort is a powerful example of this principle in action. In 2025, HOT staff and volunteers focused on outreach at bars and clubs in Cleveland and Lakewood, successfully distributing 750 HIV home test kits. Leading this charge is Two Spirit drag performer and Director of ArtReach, SlayIcon Wamego, whose presence in these spaces transforms a public health initiative into a cultural touchstone.
“We believe in meeting people where they are and without judgment,” said the Director of ArtReach of HOT. “This includes outreach at bars, on the streets, and on weekends, especially for folks in the LGBTQI2S+ community who face the greatest barriers. My Two Spirit ancestors from the Potawatomi tribe were healers and the first people of Ohio, so leading this work feels like reconnecting with roots and culture. I’m grateful for Three Arches Foundation support so all of us at HOT can connect more people to resources that prevent and heal.”
