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Mar 12 2025 • By Melissa Czarnik

Keshet and HFLS Launch “Move to Thrive” Interest-Free Loan Program for LGBTQ+

 

New York and Boston, March 13, 2025 – In response to escalating legal and political attacks on LGBTQ+ people, particularly transgender youth, Keshet, the nation’s leading LGBTQ+ Jewish organization, and the Hebrew Free Loan Society have announced the launch of the Move to Thrive Interest-Free Loan Program. This groundbreaking initiative provides financial assistance to LGBTQ+ individuals and families who need to leave their home and move to another state due to hostile policies. It is made possible by the generosity of The Jewish LGBTQ Donor Network. 

“For many LGBTQ+ families, particularly those with transgender children, the choice to move is not a preference — it’s about survival,” said Idit Klein, President and CEO of Keshet. “This program — inspired by the Jewish value of B’tzelem Elohim, that all are made in the divine image, that all are entitled to safety and dignity — provides crucial financial relief to those facing displacement due to anti-LGBTQ+ laws and policies, ensuring they can access safer environments with dignity.” 

Through Move to Thrive, qualified applicants will be eligible for interest-free loans of up to $10,000 to help cover relocation costs. The program aims to alleviate the financial burden of moving while demonstrating solidarity and support for the LGBTQ+ community from the broader Jewish community. Applicants do not need to be Jewish and can move from any state in the United States to any state in the United States. Applicants must be prepared to relocate within six months of applying, meet HFLS income guidelines, and provide a guarantor. With seed funding sufficient to support at least five families, Keshet and HFLS are committed to expanding the program to meet growing demand.

How Move to Thrive Works:

  • Keshet will handle outreach and initial screening of prospective borrowers.
  • The Hebrew Free Loan Society will oversee loan processing, disbursement, and repayment.
  • Loan repayments will be recycled into new loans to support additional individual families in need.

“With Keshet able to identify and connect directly with people who need financial assistance to move and HFLS’s expertise in lending, this collaboration makes smart use of the community’s existing resources to solve a new problem. We also want to send a clear message that American Jews not only care about what is happening but are also developing concrete ways to help,” said Rabbi David Rosenn, the Hebrew Free Loan Society’s President and CEO.  

Keshet has been working closely with families who have been impacted by anti-LGBTQ+ policies for years and this work has inspired the Move to Thrive initiative.

Eric Ross who recently moved his family to Connecticut from Florida in order to live in a more LGBTQ+ supportive state said: “I am saddened by the reality that a resource like this has become necessary, but heartened that Keshet and the Hebrew Free Loan Society have come together to make emergency loans possible for those who need it to get their children out of harm’s way. I am grateful that I had the luxury of a year to plan our move and that we sold our home for enough to be able to leave Florida. I don’t know how we would have been able to make it to a trans-friendly state otherwise. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have the privilege of our living situation, and now there is a way for those parents to give their children the life they deserve.”

Ezra Stanley who made the move to Massachusetts said: “No one should have to move across the country just to be who they are, but that’s exactly what I had to do when anti-trans policies started coming to Florida. The climate of transphobia that always existed in my rural community only worsened when state politicians started attacking trans people regularly. After experiencing harassment in public, I knew I couldn’t safely stay if I wanted to transition. I felt depressed, afraid, and like I would never thrive if I had to stay. Thanks to money I had the privilege to save over the years, I was able to move to a blue state with transgender protections and a climate of acceptance. My depression and fear were replaced by the joy of discovering who I would become when I was simply allowed to be myself. Three years after the move, and I’ve never felt better. With the Move to Thrive interest-free loan program, folks without the privilege of a large emergency fund will be able to take the same steps I did towards freedom and joy.”  

Rabbi Greg Kanter who moved to Illinois said: “As a father in a family with two dads, we moved from South Carolina to Illinois for our family’s best interests. We felt under attack in South Carolina so that just living our lives was becoming more and more challenging every day. The legal system failed us. In order to protect all of us, we found it necessary to move to a place where we could focus on work and family instead of constantly worrying about what was going to happen next and how we had to defend ourselves. We are pleased to be in Illinois where our family and children can flourish. We remain active in the support of our new Jewish community and the LGBTQ+ community.”

Initial funding for the program will come from the Jewish LGBTQ Donor Network, a global community of LGBTQ Jews who come together to explore philanthropic opportunities and translate that learning into collective action to enhance the lives of LGBTQ Jews.   

Jeff Schoenfeld Co-Founder of the LGBTQ Jewish Donor Network said. “Funding urgent needs and infrastructure building for LGBTQ Jews is why we founded this network. We are committed to helping LGBTQ families relocate to new, safer locales that offer appropriate healthcare and legal protections.”  

Individuals with relevant experience are available for interview.

For more information or to apply, visit www.keshetonline.org/movetothrive.

About Keshet
Keshet envisions a world in which all LGBTQ+ Jews and our families can live with full equality, justice, and dignity. By strengthening Jewish communities and equipping Jewish organizations with the skills and knowledge they need to make all LGBTQ+ Jews feel welcome, we work to ensure the full equality of all LGBTQ+ Jews and our families in Jewish life. We also create spaces in which all queer Jewish youth feel seen and valued and advance LGBTQ+ rights nationwide. Visit www.keshetonline.org to learn more.  

About the Hebrew Free Loan Society
HFLS is the largest interest-free lender in the U.S., providing financial assistance to low- and moderate-income individuals across various needs, including education, housing, and small business support. Learn more at www.hfls.org.