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lgbtq+ representation in housing services

Findings from our reports – inclusion in housing policies and communications

Minutes

WHY WE EXIST

In our 2021 report, we asked LGBTQ+ young people who faced homelessness what they would like to see from housing services.

In 2022, we went to the housing services and asked them about their procedures. Here is what we found.

what you want from housing services:

Aside from housing and homelessness, LGBTQ+ young people would like to see services that support the following:

homeless LGBTQ+ young people want improved use of inclusive language:

Half of LGBTQ+ young people want to see services use more inclusive language which recognises their identity.

  • 68 %

    of trans young people surveyed

  • 60 %

    of LGBTQ+ disabled people surveyed

  • 57 %

    of LGBTQ+ people of colour surveyed

homeless LGBTQ+ young people want to see themselves represented:

Almost 45 % of LGBTQ+ young people want to see services use more people who look like them in communications materials.

  • 57 %

    of trans people surveyed

  • 55 %

    of LGBTQ+ people of colour surveyed

  • 47 %

    of LGBTQ+ disabled people surveyed

how housing services are tackling LGBTQ+ youth homelessness:

improving housing and homelessness services

We carried out research in 2022 to see how local authorities and housing associations are considering LGBTQ+ people, of all ages, in their service design and delivery.

what we learnt:

staff training

  • More than two fifths (44 %) of those surveyed have not received training on LGBTQ+ inclusion or LGBTQ+ homelessness.
Until people feel safe to disclose, you can ask the questions in whatever way you like but it won’t necessarily make a difference. You need those service users to think that they will be included and respected no matter what.
Housing Association

representation in policy:

  • 19% of organisations do not reference LGBTQ+ homelessness or LGBTQ+ youth homelessness in any of their policies, procedures and strategies and 18% were not aware.
  • Only 33 % of local authorities include LGBTQ+ homelessness or LGBTQ+ youth homelessness in their rough sleeping or homelessness reduction act strategies. 40 % of local authorities do not reference either in these strategies.
  • More than a 37 %do not reference LGBTQ+ homelessness or LGBTQ+ youth homelessness in their policies, procedures and strategies or were not aware.

data collection:

  • 85% organisations surveyed say that their data capture could be improved to be more inclusive of a range of gender identities.
  • 19 %

    of organisations do not reference LGBTQ+

    homeless youth in policies, proced-ures or strategies

  • 33 %

    of local auth-orities include LGBTQ+ youth

    in their homeless-ness reduction strategies

  • 36 %

    of local authorities do not include LGBTQ+

    in their policies and strategies or were not aware

On inclusive services 99/100 [times] that would happen by virtue of staff awareness and sensitivity rather than a specific process for all trans people.
Local Authority

READ ALL AKT’S POLICY BRIEFINGS

akt carries out lots of research to identify the issues faced by LGBTQ+ young people in danger of homelessness and look for ways to make services better.
SEE REPORTS

related articles

Other findings from akt on the experience of LGBTQ+ young people facing homelessness.
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