SAVED BY HATCH – the Montrose Center | Community Exchange
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SAVED BY HATCH – the Montrose Center
A personal story about how Hatch Youth Services, the oldest LGBTQ youth program in Texas, helped a trans youth find safety, community, and a path to college.
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Topic: LGBTQ youth support in HoustonSource: The Montrose CenterProgram: Hatch Youth Services — oldest LGBTQ youth program in TexasOutcome: Crimson is now a UH sophomore on a full scholarshipReading time: About 2 minutes
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Good first step: Share Anyone who knows a young person who feels alone or unsafe at home
Hey, I read about a free Houston program called Hatch Youth Services that helped a young person get counseling, food, and even college help. It might be worth knowing about: montrosecenter.org
Crimson grew up in a home where being trans wasn't accepted. After years of isolation, depression, and thoughts of suicide, Crimson found Hatch Youth Services — the oldest LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) youth program in Texas. Hatch provided food, clothing, counseling connections, mentorship, and community. Today Crimson is a sophomore at the University of Houston on a full scholarship — and wants to be a teacher.
Hatch Youth Services is a program run by the Montrose Center in Houston. It offers LGBTQ young people a safe community, basic needs like food and clothing, connections to counseling, mentorship, and help navigating big life steps like applying to college. Crimson arrived at 17, struggling and afraid. Hatch helped connect Crimson to every available resource — and a mentor later helped Crimson land a full four-year scholarship to the University of Houston.
Crimson's story offers three clear ways you can put it to use. First, if you know an LGBTQ young person, let them know they have your support — that simple act can matter more than you realize. Second, if you want to help programs like Hatch, look for volunteer, mentorship, or donation opportunities in your area. Third, if you're a young person who sees yourself in Crimson's story, know that programs like Hatch exist and that reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness.
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Hatch Youth Services is a program of the Montrose Center, a Houston-based organization serving the LGBTQ community. The Born This Way Foundation originally published Crimson's story as part of its work highlighting kindness and community support. The Montrose Center also hosts an annual LGBTQIA+ Youth Prom and runs an Empowering Our Future Gala that raised $361,000 in 2026 for LGBTQ youth services. A first-of-its-kind Houston Area L.O.V.E. (Listening, Opinions, Voices and Experiences) Survey is also underway to better understand LGBTQ community needs across Greater Houston.
Too many LGBTQ young people don't have a safe place to go. Crimson's story shows what's possible when one program steps in with real support — not just services, but a sense of belonging. Last year alone, Hatch served more than 800 youth. Stories like this one remind us why that work matters and what neighbors can do to help.
