Creating safe housing for LGBTQI asylum seekers

Micro Rainbow created the first ever safe housing scheme in the UK for LGBTQI people fleeing persecution, opening the first dedicated safehouse in 2017. Our research and work with beneficiaries showed that LGBTQI asylum seekers are often actively unsafe when placed in housing environments with people whose religious and cultural backgrounds can encompass extreme homophobic and transphobic views. This can often include accommodation with people from their own countries. This can put asylum seekers at risk from the very persecution they were trying to escape. Unsurprisingly, non-cisgender LGBTQI people placed in unsafe environments such as these frequently suffer from higher levels of violence and abuse. Some have even reported being sexual assaulted and raped.

Safe housing scheme

Our safe housing scheme was developed in direct response to these risks, to provide safe welcoming, and inclusive housing for LGBTQI people fleeing persecution. In the five years since the opening of the first safehouse, the national safe housing scheme has expanded to 17 safe houses. The houses are in London, the West Midlands, and the Northwest of England, with space for four residents in each house. As of 2022, the Micro Rainbow housing capacity is over 25,000 bed-nights a year.

Staying in a Micro Rainbow safe house allows LGBTQI migrants to benefit from a supportive environment and specialised support at a critical point in their lives when they are fighting for their right to live freely in the UK. Having a safe and secure place to live is crucial. Applying for asylum is mentally and physically draining but trying to do this while at risk of violence from other detainees can cause intolerable strain for LGBTQI asylum seekers. Micro Rainbow housing can provide some of the support and stability needed when LGBTQI asylum seekers are preparing their cases.

The impact of safety and support

Alana is a trans woman from Malaysia. After filing her asylum claim, she was at risk of homelessness and was initially placed in hotel accommodation in London. Her solicitor put her touch with Micro Rainbow and eventually she was relocated to one of our safehouses while she awaited her Home Office interview. Alana said this about her experience of Micro Rainbow Housing:

Alana

I was incredibly lucky that Micro Rainbow was there at the right time. I kept worrying I could end up homeless, like so many LGBTQI asylum seekers do, and risk losing the claim or delaying the process. But when I arrived at the Micro Rainbow house, I felt a sense of relief to have a roof above my head and feel safe at the same time – something I hadn’t felt in a long time. It was heart-warming.”

Jon and Marbilla escaped from Saudi Arabia. Jon is a trans man, and both he and Marbilla knew that their relationship would be accepted in their home country. They felt compelled to leave and claim asylum in the UK. They stayed in a Micro Rainbow house while awaiting the results of their asylum claim.

John

For the first time since our ordeal began, we feel safe. There’s no racism in the shared Micro Rainbow house, or a feeling you’re still in your own country. I can now leave the house comfortably and not worry about Marbilla or anything else.”

Alana, Jon and Marbilla knew that they were safe to be themselves while living in Micro Rainbow housing. While living in a safehouse, Alana was able to connect with people from different backgrounds and with different stories, all united by the same purpose: to live their lives as authentically as possible. The safehouse provided stability for Jon and Marbilla. They knew they were able to stay until the results of their asylum claim and didn’t have to worry about being uprooted and moved.

The future

Up to 2,000 people claim asylum on the basis of their sexuality in the UK every year. In response to this, we are continuing to try and meet the needs of LGBTQI asylum seekers with housing and other holistic support. We opened three more safe houses in the West Midlands in 2022 and intend to open several more in 2023, taking our total over 20.