Trans Folks Who Are Unemployed, Homeless, or in Massive Debt

CNNMoney, a digital partnership between CNN and Fortune and Money magazines, came up with an impressive series this week in which they spoke to six transgender people who were either unemployed, homeless, living on food stamps, or facing piles of debt. Trans leaders are heralding the stalwart news site for looking at the significant issues that transgender Americans faces in every day life: money, healthcare, and jobs.

Among the key points in Blake Ellis's opening article:

"It's hard to pin down a precise jobless rate since there's so little transgender-specific data available. The most recent comprehensive study of more than 6,000 transgender individuals was released in 2011 by the National Center for Transgender Equality. This report found the transgender jobless rate to be 14% -- double the national rate -- and as high as 28% for black respondents. And a recent online Prudential survey of 49 transgender individuals had similar findings."

"Homelessness among this group is estimated to be double the national rate, according to the NCTE study. Respondents were also nearly four times more likely to have annual household incomes of less than $10,000, and 16% said they resorted to sex work or drug dealing for income -- a percentage that nearly doubled for the unemployed and skyrocketed to 53% for black respondents.

Among the other interviews are:

Diana O'Brien Age: 42 Hometown: Wilton Manors, Fla.

Tim Chevalier Age: 32 Hometown: Lexington Hills, Calif.

Chris Down Age: 23 Hometown: New York City

Keisha Allen Age: 45 Hometown: Chicago

Jennifer Chavez Age: 55 Hometown: Dallas, Ga.

Rebecca Juro Age: 50 Hometown: North Brunswick, NJ