K Rd Chronicles, episode 4: The safety of Rainbow Youth

Friday, 8 January 2021

The fourth episode of The K Rd Chronicles season two highlights the lives of the homeless trans community.

The seven-part video web series, hosted by transgender journalist Six, explores homelessness in New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland.

In season two, Six, who was homeless for six years, looks at some of the most pressing issues affecting homeless people – the Covid-19 pandemic, housing, the demand for aid, rainbow youth, and helpful communities.

The video above, episode four, highlights the life of Sjaak, a young, homeless trans man.

**READ MORE:

* K Rd Chronicles, episode 8: Six is burgled

* K Rd Chronicles, episode 7: Ben and his dog Buddy

* K Rd Chronicles, episode 6: Keith the Addict

* K Rd Chronicles, episode 5: The Court of New Beginnings

**

He wasn’t homeless in the sense that he was sleeping on the street, but rather couch-surfing between friends and staying in places he found on social media.

Sjaak is now living in his own place, but the journey to get there has been difficult. Before securing a home, he never felt safe or stable, couldn’t be himself and was constantly on edge. But the support of the trans community helped.

“Just knowing that others had gone through similar things, kicked out of home, not accepted, and they still made it,” he said.

Rainbow Youth, a charity with a drop in centre for queer young people, helped a lot too.

The K Rd Chronicles was made for Stuff by Magnetic Pictures, funded by NZ On Air.

For more episodes in the series, hit the banner below or click here.