LGBTQ+ youth twice as likely to experience hidden homelessness, new study shows

A new national report has revealed a hidden crisis affecting LGBTQ+ youth across the UK. Released by akt, the national LGBTQ+ homelessness charity, in collaboration with the Universities of Kent, Bristol, and Southampton, the study highlights a stark reality: LGBTQ+ young people are twice as likely to experience hidden homelessness compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers. This includes unstable living situations such as sofa surfing, squatting, or staying in unsafe accommodations.

Many LGBTQ+ young people become homeless due to family rejection, abuse, and discrimination. However, because they often rely on temporary and informal housing arrangements rather than seeking help from traditional homelessness services, they remain largely invisible in official statistics. This has led to a lack of targeted support, leaving many LGBTQ+ young people without access to safe housing options.

The report also found that mainstream housing services are failing LGBTQ+ young people. Half of those who sought support from akt reported poor experiences elsewhere, reflecting the systemic barriers that prevent them from accessing adequate help.

Adam Pemberton Wickham, CEO of akt, emphasized the urgency of addressing this crisis: “No young person should have to choose between a safe home and being who they are. This report makes clear that LGBTQ+ youth homelessness is a national crisis – but one that remains largely invisible. Hidden homelessness is unrecorded in government data, overlooked in policy discussions, and deprioritized in mainstream services. A one-size-fits-all approach to tackling homelessness does not work. The needs of LGBTQ+ young people must be recognized, and real change is needed.”

The report sheds light on the disproportionate impact of homelessness on marginalized LGBTQ+ groups. Some of the most vulnerable include:

• LGBTQ+ young people from racialized minorities, who are 50% more likely to experience hidden homelessness than their white counterparts.
• Non-binary youth, who are twice as likely as women to be at risk of homelessness.
• Bisexual and other non-heterosexual youth, who are twice as likely to face homelessness compared to their heterosexual peers (30% vs. 15%).
• LGBTQ+ young people with mental health struggles, 80% of whom reported serious mental health issues while sleeping rough.

Despite the severity of these challenges, current legal protections under the Housing Act 1997 and the Homelessness Code of Guidance fail to adequately recognize the unique vulnerabilities LGBTQ+ young people face. As a result, many are turned away from the support they desperately need.

The report highlights the urgent need for systemic change to address LGBTQ+ youth homelessness, so akt is calling for:

1. Better data collection to ensure LGBTQ+ youth homelessness is accurately recorded and prioritized in national and local housing strategies.
2. More inclusive housing services that recognize the specific challenges faced by LGBTQ+ young people.
3. Improved legal protections, particularly for LGBTQ+ young people facing domestic abuse or multiple disadvantages.

Addressing this crisis requires targeted policies, increased funding for LGBTQ+-affirming housing services, and a commitment from both government and society to ensure that no young person is left without a safe and stable place to call home, concluded the report.

Click here to download the full report.