Lehi Dowell, cofounder and board secretary of Tasha’s House, grew up as a member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community in Douglas County, Oregon. He graduated high school in 1997, moved away for a while, and came back in 2020. “When people think about rural Oregon, they’re thinking about lakes and rivers and the festivals but what they don’t always see is how isolating it is for LGBTQIA2S+ community,” Dowell said.
He and fellow cofounder Mark Lenihan started Tasha’s House in 2022 to give people in their community access to needed services as well as opportunities to find connection and community. The organization was named in memory of Tasha Oliverson, a local LGBTQIA2S+ activist and champion who often spoke of the need for a place like this, saying, “If I could, I would just take them all to my house!”
Since opening, Tasha’s House has served more than 2,500 people and hosted hundreds of free community events. The organization has a drop-in youth center and provides resources to youth in need. It also sponsors a clothing closet for foster youth, stocked with new and stylish clothing that kids can feel good wearing to school. Tasha’s House organizes field trips to places youth might otherwise lack the money or transportation to access. For youth who need it, Tasha’s House also partners with a transitional living program located on site. The organization is run entirely by volunteers, with local voices, including a youth advisor, driving program decisions. A grant from the Roundhouse Foundation supported the organization’s events programming.
More than 16 percent of people in Douglas County live below the poverty line, and nearly half of all households experience financial hardship. For many people in the local LGBTQIA2S+ community, that means even basic opportunities to participate in the cultural life of their community can be out of reach. Some have never been to the theater or popular local restaurants. “People in our community do not experience what our community has to offer because they can’t afford it,” Dowell said.
On one field trip, Tasha’s House was able to bring youth to Diamond Lake to go horseback riding. “It’s not just bringing them closer with people they can network with; it’s about giving them experiences in their backyard they can’t otherwise afford.”
Dowell pointed out that LGBTQIA2S+ youth face disproportionately high rates of homelessness and are overrepresented in the foster care system. While LGBTQIA+ people make up roughly 9 percent of the population, they represent 30 percent of children in foster care.
Tasha’s House works closely with foster families and the Oregon Department of Human Services to support youth in the foster care system and those who need support after leaving it. Young people who age out of foster care often face significant challenges finding housing, employment, and other resources to support themselves.
Some events, like movie nights, are open to any foster family as well as LGBTQIA2S+ community. Tasha’s House makes sure tickets are free for everyone. Popcorn and soda are also provided. “Giving the kids a normal experience at a theater and giving the parents some respite is why we do these events.” Some families travel as far as 75 miles to come to Tasha’s House events.
In the short time Tasha’s House has been running, its presence has made a difference for local kids, families, and even for adults returning to their hometown. At a recent Pride celebration in the park, a young woman came up to Dowell. She said she was surprised to find LGBTQIA2S+ representation in her hometown. She was living with her parents who hated how she identified and yet had stumbled across an event celebrating it in her own backyard.
“We don’t want our young adults to be viewed through the things they lack; but as leaders,” Dowell said. “They are the future of Douglas County and they make it stronger for everyone.” Tasha’s House is working to make sure everyone feels they have a safe place to call home.
