We’re looking forward to introducing you to Trish Thomas . Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Trish, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Yes. Omg, So, Houston was hit by hurricane Beryl in July 2024 and that really changed my life affected me because it left me homeless for about 8-9 months due to discrimination/racism at a Humble, Tx apartment complex that i was supposed to move into. Before that, the apartment I was renting at flooded so bad. We didn’t have power for 17 days after the storm hit the city. The negligence from the landlord/property management company I was living at with my children due flooding, mold/mildew, uninhabitable living conditions etc. Being denied any help from them, the city of Houston and the government turned little ol me into a big beast. I had to speak up and advocate for myself, and represent myself in each situation. There was no help, no support, no friends/family, no resolution from the city of Houston, Fema or anyone. Now, that didn’t stop me , I kept studying the Tx state laws, advocating for myself and children. And then came January 7, 2025, a day after my oldest son’s 21st birthday, I was able to win my federal civilrights discrimination fairhousing case against that Humble, Tx apartment complex and its employee for racism/discrimination and so Tx law violations. Remember I didn’t even move in the apartment, I had been waiting months for keys. I’ve never felt so proud of myself for speaking up, and never giving up. Now I’m helping other renters/tenants across Tx and other city/states advocate for themselves against owners/landlords. Recently, I’ve helped at least 100 people win their claims/cases.
It’s a beautiful feeling when others win by just giving them the resources/guidance they need in life.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Well, alot has happened since our last interview. With that being said, allow me to reintroduce myself.
My name is Trish Thomas from Houston Tx. Last year we did an interview about my mindset coaching & spiritual guidance business that helped hundreds of women learned to trust themselves, connect with others, and to go bravely into their purpose. This had to take a slight pause because since that interview life had hit me hard and unfortunately I had to stop and shut down my business due to becoming homeless for about 8-9mnths after Hurricane Beryl hit Houston back in July 2024. I went without power 17 days, my apartment had flooded, mold/mildew was everywhere, my sons and I lost everything. Now, that might have slowed me down and set me back alot after losing everything in a flooded apartment, then having to experience discrimination/racism at a Humble, Tx apartment complex that I was supposed to move into wasn’t what I was looking forward to experiencing during that time. Now, I am now I’m helping other Houstonians and others in different city/states advocate for themselves against landlords/property management companies. Alot of renters/tenants don’t know their rights and the laws when it comes to renting and now I have started a business to help guide them to advocate for themselves against their landlords/property management company. There is way too many people being evicted, or becoming homeless due to uninhabitable living conditions, negligence, racism and etc at alot of these apartment communities everywhere.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
The moment I felt the most powerful was early this year. January 2025, I won my 1st Federal Fairhousing Discrimination/Civil Rights case by MYSELF. Do you know how hard it is to prove racism/discrimination against a apartment complex and the owner? But, I studied the Tx law and represented myself in the whole process against that apartment property and its owners and Won by the grace of God. Remember, during this time, I lost everything, I was homeless, no job, no car, legally fighting 2 different owner/ property management companies. I went through everything alone, I was denied help from the city and government (Fema), no resources other than my own , nobody showed up to offer prayers, food, clothes, not even a hug, nothing at all. You would think the people that you show up for will reciprocate that energy but nope, nobody came to help me or my sons. But see all you have to do is to trust yourself, speak up and trust GOD. And what’s crazy was my son witnessed the exact moment I got home after court. I thought I lost, almost gave up but I got a call that changed everything in the blink of an eye. I won a case that wasn’t going in my favor at first. I cried, I prayed walked in the rain angry not knowing that in the 10 minutes it took me to get home the judge changed his verdict. Just like that. The judge ruled in my favor.
I did something I didn’t know I could do by myself in a case like this. But, I won. I did it. God is amazing, even when you doubt yourself, God is within You.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
So, to be real. I just stopped hiding myself and the pain I carried for so long. I was so ashamed of what I went through after that hurricane beryl and losing EVERYTHING. I had nothing left and nobody to turn to for anything. But, once I won my Fairhousing Civil Rights/Discrimination case by myself, I knew I couldn’t be the only person who went through something like that. But then again I never seen any videos about anything similar to it. Then, I saw someone on TikTok who experienced the exact same thing I had just went through,I made a video for them and anyone else that experienced what i did and those videos went viral. Since then I have helped over hundreds maybe thousands of people from different city/states with their cases/claims against their apartment complex/ landlord(s).
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Well, other than myself ,just joking (lol). I will have to say, the beautiful and intelligent Jasmine Crockett. I just admire and love her, her foundational philosophies, what she stands for and what she doesn’t. She’s a raw and authentic black woman who’s about making changes that need to be done. I see myself that same way after what I experienced.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
You have to really know yourself. When you know that you’re God in action and God is really within you. You will learn to trust your spiritual gifts ,thats your power and blessing. Know that you can overcome anything by yourself if you can discipline yourself, shift your perspective/mindset, know your spiritual & emotional intelligence will save you. Speak YOUR truth no matter how anyone else feels about it. This is your life experience, so tell your story you never know who’s watching. Just sharing your experience will save the next person who trying to figure out how you overcame what you went through. Your purpose in life is knowing who you are.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @prettyass_goddess_t
- Other: https://tiktok.com/@prettyass_goddess
Image Credits
Lensical Genius Photography by Dominque Howard-Craft
