Housing

If you are out to your parents and they are supportive and accept you being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT), and you are happy at home, that is brilliant.

However, our research found that just over a quarter of GALYIC members have been homeless.

Some LGBT young people are made homeless because their parents throw them out or make life unbearable at home because of their sexual orientation.

Another reason why LGBT young people are often homeless is because they do not want to access homeless hostels or bed and breakfast accommodation as these can be unsafe places for LGBT young people.

If you are in a situation where your family is homophobic and are likely to throw you out; or life is so unbearable at home because of their homophobia, it is important you access support.

Living in an environment where your family constantly undermine you can have a devastating effect on your mental health.

It is important you get help. We suggest you contact Stonham's Supported Lodgings Scheme which provides accommodation and support for young people aged 16 to 25 years. Many of our members have been referred to this scheme.

Supported Lodgings is like a stepping-stone for young people between leaving home and setting up their own home.

Whilst having your own place may seem like the right thing for you, it can be very lonely and not everyone is ready for the financial management needed to pay bills or are able to cook.

Supported Lodgings is a project where providers (these could be families or single people) let lodgers have their own room but usually share the other facilities like bathroom, kitchen, and lounge.

The providers offer some support around budgeting or cooking or whatever your needs are.

You also have a key worker who provides support in many other areas such as helping you to sort out benefits, attend training or college or negotiate with your family.

Stonham also offer a Tenant Support Scheme whereby a key worker provides support to young people who have their own private tenancies.

In 2008 Sadeh Lok, a housing association in Huddersfield, opened up a ten bedsit facility specifically for LGBT people and some of our members have been tenants. We access this project via the Brunswick Centre who have worked closely with Sadeh Lok to develop the scheme.

Both Supported Lodgings Scheme and Sadeh Lok will help you get your own place either through a housing association or Pennine Housing. Pennine Housing have their own LGBT tenants support group.

For further information about the different housing schemes available click here to access Calderdale's Services for Homeless People Directory (it takes a while to download).

There is an excellent section about LGBT young people and homelessness on the The National Youth Homelessness Scheme website.

Other potential resources from America, particularly for housing workers, include Best Practice Guidelines for Serving LGBT Youth in Out-of-Home Care, produced by the Child Welfare League of America.

The Center for American Progress have published a report, On the Streets, The Federal Response to Gay and Transgender Homeless Youth.

The Family Acceptance Project in San Francisco is developing resources to support the families of LGBT young people.