The ever-growing need for LGBT+ housing

In March of 1974, the squatters of number 78 Railton Road in Brixton opened the South London Gay Community Centre. It was the first of its kind in the UK and over its short two year tenancy became a bastion of hope for the wider LGBT+ activist movement, housing outspoken and brave queer people pushing forward for LGBT+ equality in a world that didn’t want to listen. Despite closing just two years after it opened its doors, the reason for its founding has not been forgotten.

In the same year the LGBT Switchboard took its first call, and it wasn’t long after that they began operating a housing advice service due to a huge demand from LGBT+ people looking to live in safe, secure and welcoming environments.

In 1983, Stonewall Housing was born with the aim of aiding LGBT+ people in their search for housing, many of whom were either homeless or at high risk of it.

Progress has been slow - it’s time we sped it up

It is clear that the LGBT+ community has been in need for housing for a long time, and this need surely predates the existence of the admirable organisations named above. But where are we now?

From a social, policy and legal perspective, LGBT+ people have made huge advances in securing their rights and attaining some level of equality. For that we owe thanks to the brave individuals (like the community of Railton Road) who fought endlessly to get us here. From the equal age of consent to the recognition of same sex marriage in 2014, it is undeniable that we have made huge progress. There is, of course, still mountains of work to be done. We must always remember that the progress made by one part of our community might not be reflected by another such as our trans brothers and sisters, who face daily persecution. But there is nevertheless cause to celebrate, albeit cautiously.

The housing situation today - where does the current landscape leave us?

The news from a housing perspective is sadly not something to celebrate, at least not just yet. A large chunk of housing-specific LGBT+ organisations in the UK have a focus on homelessness and with one in four homeless people identifying as LGBT+, the existence of these organisations represents the heartbreaking situation that our community still finds itself faced with. The work of AKT, The Outside Project and many others provide a vital service to ensure that those at risk of homelessness have access to the support and advice they need, and at a minimum, someone with whom to talk.

The work goes on. Organisations such as Tonic Housing and the LGBT Foundation are soon to open the first LGBT+ affirming extra-care schemes for older people. These will be the first asset-based LGBT+ housing organisations in the UK and although this represents another huge step, it is only a stepping stone in the wider picture.

But the hard work of our community can only take us so far. We need rapid action at a government level to reduce homelessness, an issue that is all the more pertinent in a pandemic which has send the crisis into overdrive. We need to put the specific needs of LGBT+ people on the table of developers and local authorities. We need the government to take our concerns more seriously. And now that LGBT+ housing is slowly featuring as a subtitle on the housing strategies of many local authorities, we need to make sure it stays there and that commitments are kept. After 50 years of struggle it is high time time that the housing needs of LGBT+ people are taken seriously and are moreover met with demonstrative action. What are you doing to make that a reality?