Young LGBTQ people being placed in unsuitable or unsafe housing situations

Young LGBTQ+ people are being placed in unsuitable or unsafe housing situations, according to new national research by the University of Kent in collaboration with the Universities of Bristol and Southampton.

Commissioned by national homelessness charity akt, the study finds LGBTQ+ people are twice as likely to experience ‘hidden homelessness’ – such as sofa surfing, sleeping in cars, or staying in unsafe temporary accommodation.

Trans young people face additional challenges with disproportionately high levels of hidden homelessness. While those who are black, brown or people of colour, are particularly at risk – with 50% more likely to experience hidden homelessness than their white counterparts.

The report also highlights what the authors call ‘an overlooked emergency’ – revealing significant gaps in government data which underestimate the scale of the challenge, as well as a lack of awareness and priority given in services from housing providers and charities.

The research reveals that only 10% of local housing services cater exclusively to LGBTQ+ young people, while 59% of mainstream service providers do not consider LGBTQ+ support a priority. Young people report entering mainstream services that don’t understand them can be alienating and leaves many without the help they desperately need.

The report also finds young LGBTQ+ people are being placed in unsuitable or unsafe housing situations where they experience high levels of discrimination, bullying and hate crime.

Homeless charity akt says figures from its service show that 77% of the young people they support say family rejection and abuse after coming out or being outed as the primary reason for their homelessness. One in five (22%) referrals to akt experience homelessness because of hostile living conditions or domestic abuse. LGBTQ+ people are more likely to have experienced trauma and be survivors of sexual abuse and familial abuse of various forms. They often also engage in riskier behaviours and survival strategies while on the street when compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers. Yet, despite this, they are often turned away in housing applications through a lack of understanding about the challenges they face.

“Our research findings show a worrying picture of LGBTQ+ homelessness in the UK and that the situation is far from improving,” Dr Carin Tunåker, lead researcher for the project and Lecturer in Law, specialising in homelessness and inequalities at Kent Law School, said.

“The government and local authorities need to recognise the challenges that LGBTQ+ people are facing and safeguard them by considering intersecting needs, such as how a person’s sexual orientation, race, gender identity and disabilities impact their experience of homelessness.

“This study demonstrates the value that research like this can bring to the public sector. Gaining unique insights into LGBTQ+ people’s experiences are shockingly still largely untapped in informing policy decision making.”

Adam Pemberton Wickham, Chief Executive of akt, said the report shows that LGBTQ+ young people are “slipping through the cracks of homelessness prevention and support.”

“Hidden homelessness is a growing crisis, yet it remains unrecorded in government data, overlooked in media discussions, and neglected in mainstream services. A one-size-fits-all approach to tackling homelessness simply does not work.”