A Quarter Of Young Homeless End Up On The Street Because Of Their Sexuality

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The Albert Kennedy Trust, an LGBT youth homelessness charity, says the numbers of young LGBT people seeking its help with homelessness was up by a fifth, from 622 in 2012/13 to 750 in 2015/16. In the majority of cases, they had been forced to leave their family homes following rejection by their parents or abuse from other family members.

The charity estimates that 4,800 young LGBT people – a figure it says equates to up to 24% of the youth homelessness – are now homeless or living in hostile environments.

“Homeless LGBT young people,” the trust stated, “are one of the most disenfranchised and marginalised groups within the UK.”

The trust’s chief executive, Tim Sigsworth, told The Independent: “LGBT people in this country have seen the benefit of many positive changes to legislation in recent years, and to some it might appear that the big battles have been won. They haven’t been.”

“At The Albert Kennedy Trust we are seeing increasing numbers of young LGBT people who are homeless or living in hostile conditions. In most cases young people have been driven out of their family homes because of parental rejection, abuse from within the family, and aggression or violence. We’re seeing a particular increase in the numbers of young people identifying as trans.”

Stonewall Housing is a specialist housing advice and support service to the LGBT community. Stonewall Housing’s advice team manager, Michael Nastari, agreed: “We have seen a dramatic increase in young people coming to us for help. The majority of people contacting us feel their sexual orientation or gender identity is the reason.”

“It can be that they are victims of antisocial behaviour where they live. It can be violence against them at home. Young people being excluded by their families is still a big issue. The LGBT community has had recent wins but we are now seeing a backlash against that from people who aren’t happy with it.”

“We can legislate but actually changing attitudes takes a long time,” concluded Mr. Nastari.