Pride month may be ending, but that doesn’t mean the problems faced by the LGBTQ+ community are finished. It’s estimated that as many as 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ people have suffered homelessness at some point in their life, and that 1 in 4 of the youth homeless population is LGBTQ+.
These figures paint a stark picture of the plight of LGBTQ+ when it comes to housing. For those who find themselves in this situation, it’s not that there’s a lack of services available: Stonewall Housing is just one provider of specifically LGBTQ+ housing services. The problem is one of awareness, with research from the National Housing Federation showing that fewer than 1 in 4 LGBTQ+ people are aware of the services available to them.
What can be done to change this?
As mentioned, the issue is around awareness and visibility. Unfortunately, the LGBTQ+ community suffers disproportionately from mental health problems as well, with half having experienced depression and 3 in 5 anxiety.
This can mean that, even where they’re aware of services, they may not be in a position to seek out support or make use of what’s on offer.
In order to remove barriers and ensure LGBTQ+ people are not only aware of support, but feel comfortable accessing it, Stonewall Housing have been appointed as the official delivery partners of the HouseProud Pledge.
What is the HouseProud Pledge?
The HouseProud Pledge is an initiative that asks social landlords to sign up to in order to demonstrate their commitment to equality and work with the LGBTQ+ community.
HouseProud itself has been around since 2014, designed originally as a network for LGBTQ+ people who work in social housing. HouseProud already comprises a number of Housing Associations, as well as a number of ALMOs, local authorities and care providers.
Launched in 2019, through The Pledge, social landlords can display their commitment to supporting the LGBTQ+ community in all their housing needs. Whilst it’s brilliant that LGBTQ+ HAs like Stonewall Housing exist, what’s more important is that LGBTQ+ people are treated without discrimination when it comes to the support and services they need to access. By having other HAs sign up to the pledge, it allows the community much better access to support and services.
Andrew van Doorn OBE, HACT CEO says:
Supporting the LGBTQ+ community is incredibly important for HACT and is something that needs a collaborative approach from the sector as LGBTQ+ people are disproportionately likely to face housing issues; around 3% of the population identify as LGBTQ+, and yet around a quarter of all homeless people are LGBTQ+. This is a really tragic statistic, and something we’re determined to try and combat.
HACT has been an important ally to the LGBTQ+ community, having funded and supported organisations seeking to address homelessness and poor access to housing for older people since the 1980s. I am particularly proud to have been a former chair of Stonewall Housing and a member of the HouseProud network.
The impact Stonewall Housing has had over the last 40 years is absolutely incredible, and we’re hoping that by working together both organisations can take their work to the next level and really help and support those who deserve to live with dignity and pride.
How can I get involved?
If you’re interested in your organisation signing up to the HouseProud Pledge you can get in touch with Stonewall Housing today and get the ball rolling.
