LGBTQ+ people and homelessness: making accommodation safer

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone. But for LGBTQ+ people, there’s a greater risk of domestic and family abuse leading to homelessness.

This has been understood for some time within homelessness services for LGBTQ+ people and more recently, shown in ground-breaking research.

Home is meant to be a place where you feel safe, comfortable and secure. Where you can be yourself without fear, stigma or abuse. But with nearly a third of LGBTQ+ people experiencing abuse from a relative – based on their sexuality or gender identity, this is less likely.

Galop CEO Leni Morris says:

“LGBTQ+ people who try to escape abuse don’t have enough suitable accommodation in the UK to meet their needs. We regularly see LGBTQ+ victims of abuse and violence forced to choose between potentially dangerous emergency accommodation, homelessness, or staying with their abusers.”

When home isn’t safe anymore, fear or threats of being “outed” by a partner, experience of bullying or hate crime, or having to open up to a stranger about your LGBTQ+ status, can understandably make someone less likely to seek help.

Having safe accommodation is key to making someone feel able to move forward.

Equation’s LGBTQ+ Specialist Safer Accommodation Worker says:

“Research indicates that LGBTQ+ people experience domestic abuse at similar or higher rates to the general population. Research consistently identifies for example, that trans respondents are more likely to have experienced domestic abuse.

“Generic services may not be best placed to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ survivors. Domestic abuse services are often gendered which presents barriers to transgender and non-binary people seeking support. Also, accommodation such as local authority hostels are often single gender which can create fear of discrimination.

“However, support is available in Nottinghamshire, Nottingham city and nationally, so LGBTQ+ survivors can access domestic abuse support and safe accommodation that meets their needs.”

Juno Women’s Aid and Nottinghamshire Women’s Aid support trans women living in Nottingham city and the county and all Equation’s male survivor services are open to trans men and non-binary survivors. We know that as a trans or non-binary survivor, you might feel less comfortable reaching out. This is why having a specialist post is so important – providing ‘by and for’ services that understand the needs of LGBTQ+ people.

Our Safer Accommodation service

We offer support to LGBTQ+ people who’ve experienced domestic abuse. We have a specialist LGBTQ+ practitioner who understands LGBTQ+ domestic abuse and housing needs and works with housing agencies to make sure your voice is heard, and your needs are taken seriously.

Our Safer Accommodation and Outreach team can help you create a safe space that you can call home. This looks different for everyone – you might want to make your current home feel safer, or you might need help finding somewhere else to live, either short or long-term. Whichever option you need, we can help.

We support people aged 16 years and over, living in Nottingham city and 18 years and over living in Nottinghamshire county.

Get in touch

Email us at referrals@equation.org.uk or call 0800 9956 999
We’re here Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm, excluding bank holidays. (A 24/7 confidential answerphone service is available outside these times)