How LGBT+ Teens Are Being Refused Help From Government
April 30, 2020An investigation conducted by ‘BBC Three’ has revealed that some local authorities across England are refusing to help homeless teens unless they “obtain letters from their parent as proof that they are homeless”.
One trans woman, Saskia, recalls the time when she was forced to leave home at the age of 16 and contacted Cornwall Council for help, where she was asked to provide the above-mentioned letter.
“Obviously I couldn't message my dad to ask for it, I was just terrified of being in the same place as him. I was trying to contact my family to try and get it [but] they just weren't cooperating. The council basically said without evidence there was nothing they could do.”
One quarter of all homeless people under the age of 25 are LGBT and 69% of them have experienced rejection, abuse and violence, according to the estimates of the Albert Kennedy Trust, an LGBT youth homeless charity.
Of the 343 local authorities the BBC contacted in England, 55 are asking that LGBT+ youth demonstrate letters from their parents as “proof” of their homelessness, unless there are claims of abuse.
As a result, LGBT+ people under the age of 25 feel helpless with no support from their local authority which either does not believe them or are labelling them as “internationally homeless”.
Leading charities say the system is putting homeless LGBT young people at risk.
Leigh Fontaine, services manager at The Albert Kennedy Trust, sees “proof” letter requests all the time. “A lot of the time parents will say one thing to the local authority — 'Oh, no. I've not kicked my son or my daughter out' — but in the same instance they are telling the child they can't return home. I don't think that local authorities always take homophobic abuse in the home seriously,” she stated.
Nic Nichol, a housing barrister who has represented homeless clients for over 30 years, said: “There is a general societal problem of straight people — council officers — not understanding the degree to which being LGBT renders a person vulnerable.”
After being contacted about Saskia's experience, a spokesperson for Cornwall Council stated: “The experience of the young person highlighted in your report is not one we would want or expect for any homeless young person coming to us for help.
“We're committed to treating everyone who approaches us for help and advice with respect and in line with our homelessness protocols. Any 16 or 17 year old coming to us for help with housing will, if homeless, automatically be considered to be in priority need.
“In situations involving young people and where there has not been an allegation of abuse, we will contact the parents to establish the home situation and offer mediation if appropriate. Our aim is to keep families together, but in situations where this is not possible we will arrange alternative temporary accommodation.”
Similar to Saskia’s experience, a gay man named Reggie also found himself homeless at a young age, 13, and was also asked from his local council for a “proof” letter from his mother.
“I felt that the council were against me, as much against me as my own family, and I felt like I didn't have anywhere to turn,” he recalls.
In 2017 The Outside Project was founded by homelessness activist Carla Ecola, trying to change that. The Outside Project is the first ever LGBT+ homeless shelter, exclusively for the community. “You don't really feel you belong in [existing] services or that they would really understand your needs, or that it's actually safe for you.
“Genuine solidarity would be an actual service delivery, funding bed spaces, making reforms in your councils to be able to support our community properly,” Carla explains.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said on the issue: “This Government recognises that homelessness amongst LGBT people is an important issue and is determined to understand it better. That's why we are currently undertaking research drawing on people's experience.
“We are also funding bespoke training for frontline staff to support those identifying as LGBT and our findings from this and the research will help us to ensure we are meeting the needs of these individuals.”
But Helen Hayes, Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, says: “These findings are shocking and point to a basic failure to understand the needs of LGBT people facing homelessness and to offer appropriate support and protection. The government should take these findings very seriously and introduce mandatory training for all frontline staff working in homelessness, with the funding to ensure that councils can implement it.”
*Names have been changed for the purpose of this article to protect anonymity.