Pride month is celebrated throughout the month of June across the world. It might be a celebration of LGBTQ+ people, but it’s also a chance to raise awareness of ongoing issues the community faces, even now in 2023.
In certain parts of the world, LGBTQ+ people are still persecuted for their sexuality or gender identity, in addition, many can find themselves experiencing homelessness. According to leading LGBTQ+ organisation, Stonewall, one in five LGBTQ+ people will experience homelessness at some point in their lives. Out of these people, as many as 25% of trans people in particular will become homeless at some stage - a staggering statistic.
LGBTQ+ homelessness may happen due to any number of reasons, some of which we’ll be exploring here on the blog.
Rejected or fleeing from their family home
According to LGBTQ+ homeless organisation, akt, over 75% of LGBTQ+ young people said that ‘family rejection, abuse or being asked to leave home’ were the primary causes of them becoming homeless.
This fear contributes to many LGBTQ+ people feeling like they can’t be fully open with their families. In fact, less than 50% feel able to communicate their sexual orientation or gender identity to everyone in their family. This might be due to old fashioned views or religious beliefs or old prejudices.
Difficulty finding work
Sadly, not all workplaces were made equal. Despite the Equality Act 2010, many LGBTQ+ people face discrimination during the hiring process and in their employment. Over a third of LGBTQ+ workers have said they will hide their sexuality or gender identity for fear of discrimination or negative consequences.
Nearly 40% of trans people have said they have experienced discrimination while looking for jobs.
When you combine this discrimination with the higher likelihood of being rejected from home, it’s easy to see how so many LGBTQ+ people find themselves in a cycle of homelessness, despite their best efforts to seek the kind of future they want. It also means that a disproportionate amount of LGBTQ+ people will find themselves turning to survival sex work to make money.
Lack of access to appropriate services
Despite the numbers of LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness remaining high, crucial services such as sexual health clinics, housing services and community groups are being cut. These services mean vulnerable people are left with nowhere safe to go, often leaving them with no other choice than to sleep rough on the streets.
Back in 2014, the ‘Staying Alive’ report revealed devastating funds to LGBTQ+ organisations due to austerity. Already underfunded, many organisations that provide an important lifeline to LGBTQ+ community were taken away, many of them never recovering.
It’s not always appropriate to signpost LGBTQ+ people to mainstream services, as their safety may be compromised, and support here shouldn’t be a one size fits all approach. Ultimately, it’s important that everyone facing homelessness has somewhere safe to go, in order to break the cycle.
At Simon on the Streets, we believe that everyone has the right to be respected, regardless of race, age, gender, sexuality or religious beliefs. Our outreach workers will support clients, whatever their background.
While we’ve come a long way since the first Pride month, it’s clear we still have a long way to go.
If you’d like to support LGBTQ+ people experiencing homelessness this Pride month, please consider making a donation to Simon on the Streets. You can help our outreach workers continue to support those facing homelessness to break the cycle once and for all.