Over ten thousand UK LGBTI young people were made homeless this year
Over ten thousand LGBTI young people were made homeless in the UK this year, new Liberal Democrat figures show.
The UK centrist political party say the extent of the ‘national scandal’ UK homeless youth face is now clear.
Freedom of information requests from 234 councils across the country shows 45,000 18-24 year-olds came forward to local authorities in past year.
Figures from Albert Kennedy Trust show that of young homeless people in the UK, one in four is LGBTI.
Therefore, of the astonishingly high number of young people who have come forward to say they are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless – an estimated 11,250 are LGBTI.
However, with more than 100 local authorities not providing information – the Guardian reports the real statistic could be much higher.
Vince Cable the leader of the Lib Dems, who carried out the research, says the revelation exposes a ‘national scandal.’
Adding: ‘These figures reveal the hidden homelessness crisis affecting young people. The situation is being made worse by recent government decisions, stripping young people of housing benefit.’
A government spokesman responding to the figures says:
‘Councils have a duty to help those most in need of temporary accommodation, and we continue to spend £24bn a year helping people across the UK with their housing costs.
‘The UK Government is providing over £1bn up to 2020 to reduce all forms of homelessness.’
1 in 4 homeless youth are LGBTI
The AKT figures make the LGBTI representation among homeless young teens hugely disproportionate.
Additionally, they also show coming out is the reason nearly four in five of the young LGBTI teens AKT spoke to become homeless.
Moreover, once homeless, LGBTI youth are more likely to experience targeted violence and discrimination. They are also more likely to abuse drugs, face sexual exploitation, and take more risks in their sex lives.
Speaking at the announcement of their partnership with National Student Pride next year, Tim Sigsworth Albert Kennedy Trust CEO says:
‘AKT believe that youth homelessness is the most pressing human rights issue facing the UK LGBT+ community. No young person should have to choose between a safe home and being who they are.’
National Student Pride is aiming to inspire a nationwide conversation about the LGBTI youth homeless crisis in the UK.
Hatti Smart who chairs the pride event held in February 2018 tells Gay Star News:
‘This huge number is devastating to hear, especially on Christmas day when so many of us are lucky enough to have our family around us. Unfortunately, these figures show the harsh reality of just how many LGBTI young people will be facing a cold and lonely Christmas.’
LGBTI singer Troye Sivan has spoken out about LGBTI homeless youth
Troye Sivan this year spoke to LGBTI youth in New York about being homeless.
The singer visited the Ali Forney Center in New York City and spoke to three LGBTI youth aiming to turn their lives around for TeenVogue.
Sivan met Skye, Maddox and Lala, who all had their different reasons for being homeless.
The three are part of the center’s youth ambassador program and are looking to, and working on, turning their lives around.
‘As a community, we’ve come so far,’ Sivan said.
‘But we clearly have a very, very, very long way to go. Now it’s my job, and our job, to keep pushing that forward and keep moving things in the right direction.’
