launching our trans pathway peer research

This is our way of sharing and uplifting what we have learnt from the young people we worked with over the past three years. The research explores the impact our project has had for 18–25-year-old trans & non-binary people facing homelessness. Within the report, young people tell us in their own words what being a part of the Trans Pathway project has meant for them.

We offer this research as a valuable tool for organisations supporting homeless trans and non-binary young people. We’d love our project to have a wider impact by deepening understandings of trans youth homelessness, helping others to create programmes supporting homeless trans+ youth and embed trans inclusion within services. Our Peer Researchers described the Trans Pathway as “a well-needed example of a holistic project delivered by trans staff that has created a radically impactful service.” We hope you will take inspiration from our project and from our young people’s insights!

About this Peer Research

We invited young people to evaluate our Trans Pathway pilot by taking part in the Peer Research project. We engaged two Peer Researchers who are trans and non-binary people with experience of homelessness to lead this research. They interviewed young people who have been a part of the Trans Pathway throughout its three-year pilot. The Peer Researchers also attended some of our events for young people and led an insight-gathering workshop at our youth group.

Our Peer Researchers analysed the data and wrote up the report which you can read in full below, with findings and recommendations co-produced by the young people. The Peer Research project was made possible by support from our funder St Martin-in-the-Fields and guidance and training offered by Groundswell.

What did we learn from the Trans Pathway?

The Peer Research shows the transformative impact of the support offered by akt’s Trans Pathway. The young people who took part highly valued the wrap-around support offered by the project – spanning areas including budgeting, independent living skills, addressing access needs, and building social confidence. The importance of taking a holistic view of homelessness is clear. There was often a wider set of unmet needs contributing to housing instability, especially for young people who are marginalised in society, may not be able to rely on their families or mainstream services for support, and have less experience of living independently. It was important that staff understood how wider issues such as access to healthcare relate to trans youth homelessness.

Building community was also central to the project’s success. Getting to meet other trans+ young people with similar experiences and being supported by trans+ staff had a big impact on participants’ feelings of safety and inclusion within the project. The Trans Pathway project was praised for its accessibility and intersectional understanding of trans+ issues.

Young people were asked about the barriers they faced. Many were negatively impacted by a lack of trans-specialist support outside akt, as well as discontinuity of service provision in short-term funded projects. Not being aware of trans-specialist services and having negative experiences at mainstream services led young people to feel unsafe seeking support. Young people wanted a familiar safe space they could access on a regular basis, with a stable core team of trusted staff.

How can the findings be applied to future projects?

Future projects could build on the strengths of the Trans Pathway by developing support that meets homeless trans+ young people’s holistic needs and offering community spaces where young people can build their confidence, supported by their peers.

Participants recommended creating exit strategies that empower young people to outgrow the support of the project. Young people were interested in more opportunities for developing skills and confidence such as through volunteering and youth-led activities, and exploring trans+ history, culture and activism.