LGBT+ History Month is a time for recognition, reflection and celebration for the hard work put into securing rights and ending social stigma.
In the UK, there are many historical events we could consider. Even this year, England is marking 20 years since Section 28 was repealed, 10 since marriage equality was achieved and in a historical first, data on LGBTQ+ identities has been reported on from the national census this year.
This census data highlighted that 4% of the UK identity as LGBT+. Despite this, LGBT+ people account for 24% of the homeless population in the UK.
Unfortunately, homelessness and LGBT+ history often go hand in hand.
LGBT+ people have historically been at a higher risk of facing homelessness than their non-LGBT+ counterparts. But why is this?
There’s a number of factors that can overlap and put LGBT+ people higher risk of homelessness. These can include:
This creates a vicious cycle as homelessness becomes more common while less support is available. This also varies depending on a person’s identity as some are more vulnerable than others, especially if they are also part of other marginalised groups.
What can we do to fix this?
The experiences of LGBT+ people facing homelessness vary greatly and there can’t be a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to ending this. This issue seems to affect all factors of life, including family, work and support services. Clearly, more must be done.
At The Connection at St. Martin’s, we aim to make our services be as inclusive as possible to create a safe and affirming space for everyone we support. But we know this isn’t enough if the system doesn’t change to – which we’re actively fighting for through our advocacy work.
As we’ve seen throughout LGBT+ history, change won’t come overnight. But if we work together we will end homelessness, for everyone.
