Over the past year homelessness amongst young people has risen by 15% and rough sleeping has risen by 20%. The work of LGBT Jigsaw is more vital than ever.

LGBT Jigsaw helps over 100 LGBT young people a year escape domestic violence, rough sleeping, homophobic / biphobic / transphobic abuse or other difficult situations into safe accommodation and supportive environments.

As well as working with young people who are already homeless LGBT Jigsaw works with hundreds of other young people to provide a route into services such as mentoring, youth groups and one-to-one support. This means we can deal with the issues sooner and help to prevent LGBT young people becoming homeless.

This work has been funded through London Councils and available to all LGBT young people across London who are homeless or having a housing crisis. London Councils are now considering the future of this funding and we need you to help us save it.

If you feel that this work, which helps homeless LGBT young people, should be protected it is really important you make your voice heard.

Please complete London Councils online survey. Here is the link to the survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/grantsconsult

The deadline is 5.00pm on Friday 23rd March 2011.

We also have information on issues which can affect LGBT young people’s lives, such as: housing options, coming out, sexual health, managing relationships, hate crime and domestic abuse as well as how to get back into education, employment or training.

Our website is also updated with news which we think you should know about; this could be a change in the law which affects you or new volunteer or employment opportunities which you might be interested in.

LGBT Jigsaw is like a passport; it allows you to access not just one but four organisations to pick and choose the support that’s right for
you.

There are four pieces to LGBT Jigsaw: they are the Albert Kennedy Trust, Stonewall Housing, Galop and PACE.

This makes it easier for you to access services. It also means that: you don’t have to tell people the same story over and over again;
you have access to a lot of different services;
and you can get as much or as little support as you need.

You can also get the support you need to stop you from becoming homeless or
help you find a home and get back on your feet if you are homeless.

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation recently published a guide called Faithbook they say that they wanted to produce a guide on faith and sexuality which would explore various different religions, the common conflicts encountered and ways of reconciling these.

AT LGBT Jigsaw we often work with young people from faith backgrounds. Here are some comments from homeless LGBT young people. ‘Believing in God gives me strength to get through the hard times in my life’. Other young people had a more negative experience ‘I was brought up by very religious parents. I often felt under a lot of pressure to meet their – and God’s expectations’. Some young people attribute the violence they have received as a direct result of their religion ‘I have been through a lot because of religion. When I have been seen to break the rules, it has been met with violence. I don’t think that’s a very good way of life to believe in’.

Religion and belief can certainly impact upon the experience that LGBT young people have of homelessness. The experiences of two individuals who came from religious backgrounds shared their thoughts with us.

Aadila had told her family she was bisexual when she was 16 years old. Her sexuality led to a massive amount of conflict at home, and she was physically and emotionally abused. She became so afraid she fled from home. This wasn’t a situation that she had planned, or wanted, but she had been left with no choice.

She says “My family and my religion are one and the same. My family encapsulate my religion. And they both rejected me…my religion used to be a big part of me. But it’s like a break up, isn’t it? If someone – something – hurts you that much and pushes you away that much. Well you can’t go back. And anyway. I’m not changing. So how would it ever work?”

Isabella, was raised in a strict religious household, and was close to her family especially her mother. She was forced to flee her home as her family came to find out about her sexuality.

“They were not only angry, aggressive and hostile towards me – they were sickened, upset, even guilty. They told me that I had been possessed by the devil my own mother said this to me how could she. I had no idea that they would all react in this way. Our house and family was one of love:” Isabella has spent 6 months without speaking to her family.

“Leaving home was the hardest thing I ever did. I had to make the decision based on the fact that I knew I would never be able to go back, and I was effectively saying goodbye to my family forever. I left a comfortable home with a sleeping bag, some clothes, and any food I dared take from the kitchen. I had no plan. I slept in parks for a while but they were cold and I was frightened. I’m now back on my feet thankfully”

“I don’t feel alone and rejected anymore, my faith guides and protects me to remain focused and positive on a day to day basis…. I can be myself and learn to be comfortable with my sexuality. I am a good human being who just wants to live my life as I choose, and do the things that I have been longing for which I would not been able to do if still living at home [with my family]”

The Lesbian and Gay Foundation’s Faithbook can be downloaded here
The Cutting Edge Consortium will be holding their 3rd annual conference: Achieving our equality, challenging faith based homophobia and transphobia More info on which can be found here.
(names have been changed, to protect the identities of those who were interviewed.)

Juice is part of the Metro Youth Service and provides Alcohol Counselling and Support to young people who identify as LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and those Questioning their sexual orientation and/or identity) in the South East London area through 1:1 support, therapeutic youth groups and general outreach.

This is an exciting new initiative based on a 6 week course designed to reinforce and support resilience and self esteem. Topics that were thought to be helpful are alcohol and substance misuse, coming out and positive identity, dealing with peer pressure, good decision making, positive communication, stress management and relationship negotiation, these are not concrete as the group will play a huge part in discussion, the topics will be based around their needs. The group meets weekly for 1 hour in Greenwich and there’s also plenty of time to socialize and make new friends.

For more information please contact juice@metrocentreonline.org

Given the current climate this is a very welcomed ruling and will benefit all young people within the care system alongside assisting Asylum seekers and young people leaving custody. The Children’s Society was granted leave to intervene and highlighted the importance of supporting Young People as they leave care.

This is a breakthrough for children’s Rights Campaigners, but the news may not be as welcomed by Local Authorities as the cost of the result of this ruling could be very significant given the fact that these young people by law are excluded from mainstream social welfare and social housing.

Action for Children conducted a study in 2006 on Asylum Seekers examining their perspectives on their in care experience, preparation for leaving care alongside after care support. A number of issues were identified relating to the age at which unaccompanied asylum seekers left care, needs assessment and pathway planning, and assisting young people to acquire practical and financial skills. The young people in this study felt inadequately equipped for independence, especially with regard to financial responsibilities. The new ruling framework for Asylum Seekers leaving care is intended to support Young People with the transition from care to independent living, and this new legislative ruling is a breakthrough for all young people within the re system and is the way forward to a positive start to adult life.

Related Links
LOOKING FORWARD: UNACCOMPANIED ASYLUM SEEKERS LEAVING CARE. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group

Run by and for young trans people aged 11-26, Trans Youth Network is a new UK-wide long-term project to provide advocacy, support, social, empowerment, signposting and training opportunities to young trans people and young people unsure of, questioning, and generally exploring their biological sex, gender or gender identity in any way at all.

Spectrumlondon

a peer support forum for all trans people and those questioning their gender along with partners, family, friends and allies

Mermaids

Family Support Group for Children and Teenagers with Gender Identity Issues

a:gender

a:gender is the support network for staff in government departments / agencies who have changed or need to change permanently their perceived gender, or who identify as intersex.

Depend

Organisation offering support to all family members, spouses, partners and friends of transsexual people in the UK

FTM International

The voice of FTMs throughout the world…

FTM Network

The FTM network is an informal and Ad hoc self help group, open to all female to male transgender and transsexual people, or those exploring this aspect of their gender.

Gender Advisory Bureau

Providing Transgender awareness training for professionals either in the Public or Private sector in the midlands.

GENDYS

GENDYS is a network for all who have encountered gender identity problems personally, transsexuals, transgendered people and gender dysphoric people of either sex, and for those who provide care, both professional and lay..

Gender Matters

Gender Matters is a registered charity covering the west middlands and all bordering regions.

Gender Recognition Panel

Official site for guidelines and applications for a Gender Recgnition Certificate in the UK

Gender Spectrum UK

Campaigning for respect, equality and rights for Gender Variant people in the UK

GIRES

Gender Identity Research and Education Society… Is also a resource for gender dysphoric people and their families; the medical and other professionals that provide their care; HealthAuthorities; Members of Parliament and other policy makers.

Hudson’s FTM Resource Guide

This Guide is intended to provide information on topics of interest to female-to-male (FTM, F2M) trans men, and their friends and loved ones.

Press For Change

Campaigning for respect and equality for trans people, mainly transsexual.

The Beaumont Society

the largest and longest established transgendered support group in the UK

The Gender Trust

UK Charity Helping with Gender Identity Issues

The Seahorse Society of Great Britain

A self-help and support group for Transvestites, those who see themselves as being Transsexual, their Families, Friends, and others involved with their welfare.

The Yogyakarta Principles

The Yogyakarta Principles are a set of principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity.

The United Kingdom Intersex Association (UKIA)

education, advocacy, campaigning and support organisation which works on behalf of intersexed people.

Translondon

TransLondon is a discussion/support group for all members of the ‘trans’ community, whatever their gender identity (or identities) and whatever stage in their ‘transition’ they have reached (if at all). However, all members must themselves be trans-identified or ‘questioning’.

Trans Matters

provides trans awareness and diversity training on site which can be classroom led or one to one, along with consultancy focusing on the benefits of being more inclusive with both staff and clients in regards to trans people ensuring the best use of a available workforce.

Trans Oxon

Support group for all trans people and those questioning their gender, along with support for their partners, family and friends.

Special thanks to Spectrum London for use of their links

The announced changes to housing benefits could have a significantly negative impact on some of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities. The cuts affect three areas which could impact on LGBT people.
• The capping of housing benefit
• The increased age of single persons’ housing allowance to 35
• The continued reduction of social housing and the increase in social housing rents to 80% of market value.

Capping of housing benefit

The cap on housing benefit coupled with a continuing reduction in housing stock could mean that people on benefits and low income are going to be disproportionately affected, pushing them into further disadvantage and reducing the housing options available to them.

The impact this will have has been debated but in London some local authorities have already seen an increase in pressure for resources with a group of 10 Liberal Democrat councillors signing an open letter complaining the actions of their own collation government are “very likely to lead to an increase in evictions, rent arrears, homelessness and demand for temporary accommodation. This will place even greater pressure on councils…”

Children’s Minister Sarah Teather has argued that the reduction in housing benefit will drive down rents. However, a recent study has found 60% of landlords would not consider reducing their rents even by a small amount with 90% of landlords saying they would look to evict the tenant if they fall into arrears.

Bob Green, Chief Executive of LGBT housing association Stonewall Housing, comments that there is a risk that LGBT people fleeing homophobic or transphobic violence “will remain in dangerous situations and some may have to move further away from their support networks. In essence, LGBT people may not be able to afford safety!”

Increased age of single persons housing allowance to 35

Currently if you are under 25 years of age you are only allowed to claim for a single room which already places many LGBT young people at a disadvantage. This means if you have a one bedroom flat, the housing benefit you get will be reduced, meaning many young people under 25 cannot afford to live alone. This already has a negative effect on LGBT people with many of them forced to live in accommodation where they do not feel safe to live as out LGBT people. The government now intends to increase the age to 35 meaning that some people may have to move homes. This may mean they are forced to go back into the closet and trans people may have to revert to their birth gender, if their economic circumstances change such as they lose their job.

The increase in age means that young people are unlikely to be able to live alone unless they achieve a good economic status which seems more and more unlikely in this challenging time of high youth unemployment. This could have a negative effect on the emotional well being of LGBT young people who already suffer higher rates of suicide, discrimination and poor mental health.

The continued reduction of social housing and the increase in social housing rents of up to 80% of market value.

Young people are unlikely to be able to live independently due to the increase of social housing rents to 80% of the market value compounded by the increase in single persons housing allowance age. Youth Homelessness charity Centrepoint’s policy officer Jenny Monsort comments that “this will particularly hit young people in supported accommodation… they will not be able to afford the rent and become homeless again.”

The reduction of social housing stock will put further pressure on the private rented stock available and with the reduction of housing benefit this stock is also likely to become limited, with 26% of landlords planning to reduce the amount of tenants they accept who are on housing benefit.

The reduction in housing benefit payments is likely to significantly reduce the housing options of some LGBT people meaning they could be forced out of their communities into areas with higher rates of hate crime. This could create further social isolation and force some people to back into the closet. Some people may not feel able to have their partner stay over for fear of attack.

What’s likely to happen?

The impact of these cuts is debatable. The government are arguing that the market will adjust to them with a net decrease in rents. However, it is likely that people will be forced to move to areas which are more affordable, which could defragment communities and force LGBT people into areas where they feel unsafe.

The increase in the single persons housing allowance is likely to put further pressure on LGBT young people, reducing their freedom to explore their identity and live their lives openly as LGBT people. It may even force some people back into the closet and/or into living in an environment where they do not feel free to fully express their identities.

We might all be in this together but it would appear it is the already disadvantaged who will take the brunt of the blow.