‘I was forced out of home because I was trans – young LGBTQ people like me are at risk of homelessness’
When Sofia* returned to her parents’ house one evening, she found her suitcase packed and her parents telling her she had to go.
His deeply religious parents discovered he was transgender after going through his belongings and finding make-up and feminine clothing he kept in his wardrobe.
They told their daughter she was a danger to her siblings, and Sofia, then 24 and unemployed, was forced out onto the street, filled with “terror” and “anxiety” about what would happen the next morning.
“I really didn’t know what to do or how to find a place to stay,” she said. Independent.
He went to Manchester and spent the next few months wandering between lodgings before he ran out of money.
Sofia spent several days on the “extremely cold” streets of Manchester in December 2023, in what she calls her lowest point. It wasn’t until the following February that he was finally placed in stable housing.
“It was terrible. Constantly worrying about your belongings being stolen or damaged, about what to feed yourself, how to stay clean, how to go to the bathroom,” she said.
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Many young people like Sofia are being forcibly removed from their LGBTQ+ homes, making them more likely to end up on the streets.
According to LGBTQ+ youth homelessness charity AKT, around 24 per cent of young people experiencing homelessness are gay, while 18 to 25-year-olds are four times more likely to face homelessness than their non-LGBTQ+ peers.
“There is still a high level of intolerance towards queer people in general, which means they can be forcibly removed from their homes by their families, landlords or any number of people who have influence over their housing,” Sofia said.
“One of the biggest problems is finding places that are queer-friendly or where the presence of queer people can be tolerated.
“It’s scary trying to find a place and being afraid that you will be discriminated against and miss out on housing because of something beyond your control.”
According to Stonewall Housing, almost one in five LGBTQ+ people have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives. This figure rises to 25 percent for trans people.
Nicola Harwood, chief operating officer of homelessness charity Depaul UK, said: “The main cause of youth homelessness is family breakdown… For LGBTQ+ young people this is exacerbated as they experience conflict at home.”
Ms Hardwood said young gay people also faced unique challenges after being forced onto the streets and were more likely to be turned away from accommodation because they were LGBTQ+.
“All youth experiencing homelessness have experienced some form of trauma in their journey to homelessness, but for LGBTQ+ youth it is even more so,” she added.
Amy Heritage, AKT’s director of marketing and communications, said: “What we are seeing are young people who are either exposed or exposed, whose families mistreat them or kick them out.
“LGBTQ+ young people are also vulnerable because there are so many intersectional needs. Many of the young people we work with are neurologically diverse or disabled. We work with a lot of people who are black, brown or of other ethnic backgrounds.”
Young LGBTQ+ people should have their own dedicated safe housing options, she said, offered by groups like the nonprofit community shelter Outside Project.
Charities such as AKT and Depaul will help young LGBTQ+ people find emergency support and specialist accommodation, which they say can be crucial to keeping them safe.
“There were times when people moved into local authority accommodation but their neighbors were homophobic and abusive and they didn’t really feel safe,” he explained.
“I think meeting people who are like you and knowing that you are not alone can be a really empowering thing.”
A Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesman said: “Everyone deserves a safe and secure home and, backed by a £3.6bn investment, we are taking action to end homelessness once and for all.
“This includes work to support young people aged 18-25 who are at risk of homelessness or rough sleeping, and councils have the flexibility to provide inclusive help for LGBTQ+ people so they can meet the needs of everyone in their community.”
If you are between the ages of 16-25, LGBTQ+ and at risk of or experiencing homelessness, you can contact AKT at: Refer yourself via live chat or online.
* Name changed
