We meet the people behind the Albert Kennedy Trust, one of London’s most valuable resources for young homeless LGBTQ+ people
The Albert Kennedy Trust is one of the most valuable resources in the UK for vulnerable LGBTQ+ people. They provide protection, advice and – where possible – accommodation to young LGBTQ+ people who are homeless, or living in an unstable environment.
As homelessness rates skyrocket and the Conservative government makes cuts to services, voluntary organisations like the Albert Kennedy Trust are more important than ever.
We’re all guilty of turning a blind eye to the struggling of others. Especially in London, the problem is very real, and right on our doorstep, and many of us ignore it rather than deal with the guilt of not doing more to help. But we CAN do more to help. In turbulent times, and with increasingly unpredictable weather conditions, simple generous actions and compassion could save lives.
We spoke to Albert Kennedy Trust’s Senior Practitioner Leigh Fontaine, to find out a bit more about the struggles young homeless LGBTQ+ people face, and what we can do to make their lives a little bit easier.
Hi Leigh! So firstly, for those who don’t know, tell us a bit about what the Albert Kennedy Trust does.
The Albert Kennedy Trust supports LGBTQ+ young people experiencing homelessness or living in hostile environments to find safe homes, employment, education or training and to celebrate their identities in order to improve their life outcomes. Our London services team works with young people every week, making sure we can always provide an option, from emergency accommodation to advocacy to provide a much needed voice. We also offer access to support from one of AKT’s online mentors through our inter-AKT service offering free, confidential online support to young LGBTQ+ people about housing, homelessness, coming out, finding local services, building confidence and skills, and other things that might be on their mind.
Tell us a bit about the statistics of LGBT+ homeless.
Our LGBTQ+ youth homelessness research found that a quarter (24%) of the UK’s homeless youth are LGBTQ+, the figures show that young people who identify LGBTQ+ are more likely to end up on the streets than their hetero peers. Many were rejected from their family homes because of of their sexuality, while others were fleeing abusive households. 77% in fact identified family rejection and abuse as the primary cause.
Some of the statistics are shocking. Why do you think the numbers are so high? Why are so many young LGBT+ people homeless?
LGBTQ+ youth are at a significantly higher risk of exposure to a range of experiences that are associated with becoming homeless, most notably the above; parental rejection and abuse. Homeless LGBTQ+ young people are less likely to seek help or support than non-LGBTQ+ homeless young people. Local authorities also often don’t ask about the protected characteristics of those coming forward for assistance. This means that the true extent of LGBTQ+ homelessness is hidden from official statistics. I think it’s easy to think with something like same-sex marriage that life is getting better for all LGBTQ+ individuals. But it’s the ones under the radar who are the most vulnerable and being neglected most.
Do you think there’s still a lot of prejudice against homeless people in general?
Certainly. I think people have an idea of what it means to be homeless. The picture of someone in a sleeping bag, unkempt and sleeping in a doorway. A narrative that allows people to other that image and that can often mean homeless people become either invisible or vilified. It’s an extra challenge young LGBTQ+ homeless people have to face, on top of increased risk of targeted violence and discrimination. Anyone can become at risk of being homeless and I think perceived prejudice can sometimes stop people accessing the help they deserve.
What steps are the Albert Kennedy Trust taking to help young LGBT homeless people?
In our London services, help takes many different forms. Sometimes it might be as simple as housing advice over the phone. Mostly it’s making sure that the young people who access our services have access to a safe home. Whether that is through our Purple Door project, or referring young people to housing partners that can offer the support they need. When a young person accesses our service, one of the team goes through a comprehensive assessment and we then tailor the support they need. It’s really important to us that we can always do something for the young person that walks through our door, and they know that someone is on their side. We’re helping young LGBTQ+ people stay safe in a crisis, find emergency accommodation and access specialist support.
And what can the public, and the LGBT community, do to help?
Just be aware. Often, young LGBTQ+ homeless people are what we call hidden homeless. Do you know a young person who might not have had somewhere to stay last night? Know someone staying on a friend or family member’s sofa? In -between homes? Maybe you know young people who regularly stay at a party or take the bus a lot at night? Maybe you know someone has had to sleep outside and you don’t know what to do? If that person is 16-25 and LGBTQ+, then AKT can help. If you want to know more about the help we offer, give us a call at the London office on 020 7831 6562 or make an online referral via our website. WUT?CLUB is supporting us at Dalston Superstore on 1st April and I’ll be there to chat to people, although if people don’t feel like chatting they can donate and help fund the support for young LGBTQ+ homeless people.
To find out more about the Albert Kennedy Trust, head to www.akt.org.uk.
