LGBTQ+ people twice as likely to be hidden homeless

The findings highlight a major gap in government data, which fails to accurately reflect the scale of the crisis. LGBTQ+ young people are twice as likely to experience hidden homelessness, such as sofa surfing, squatting, or staying in unsafe accommodation, yet their experiences remain overlooked in mainstream housing services.

Key Findings

• LGBTQ+ people are twice as likely to experience hidden homelessness as their non-LGBTQ+ peers.
• 1 in 4 LGBTQ+ young people have experienced homelessness, compared to the government’s official estimate of just 4%. This rises to 1 in 3 for trans and non-binary young people.
• LGBTQ+ young people from racialised minorities are 50% more likely to experience hidden homelessness than their white counterparts.
• Mainstream housing services are failing LGBTQ+ young people, with 50% of those coming to akt reporting poor experiences elsewhere.

A Hidden Crisis

Many LGBTQ+ young people become homeless due to family rejection, abuse, and discrimination. Yet because they often rely on unstable and temporary living arrangements, such as staying with friends or partners, they are largely missing from official homelessness figures.

Mainstream services frequently fail to recognise the specific challenges LGBTQ+ young people face, leaving many without support when they need it most. This research, which is the most comprehensive study of LGBTQ+ youth homelessness in the UK, makes clear that urgent intervention is required.

The Impact of Intersectionality

The report highlights how multiple intersecting challenges, such as gender identity, race, and mental health struggles, make some LGBTQ+ young people even more vulnerable to homelessness:

• Non-binary young people are twice as likely as women to be at risk of homelessness.
• Bisexual and other non-heterosexual young people are twice as likely to face homelessness as their heterosexual peers (30% vs. 15%).
• LGBTQ+ young people with mental health struggles are at a significantly higher risk—with 80% of those sleeping rough reporting serious mental health issues.
• Current legal protections under the Housing Act 1997 and the Homelessness Code of Guidance do not adequately recognise these vulnerabilities, meaning many LGBTQ+ young people are turned away from support.

A Call for Urgent Action

The findings of this report make it clear: LGBTQ+ youth homelessness is a systemic issue that requires urgent intervention. akt is calling for:

• Better data collection to ensure LGBTQ+ youth homelessness is accurately recorded and prioritised in national and local housing strategies.
• More accessible and inclusive housing services that recognise the specific challenges LGBTQ+ young people face.
• Improved legal protections for LGBTQ+ young people facing homelessness, particularly those experiencing domestic abuse or multiple disadvantages.