Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) young people are around four times more likely to experience homelessness than non-LGBT people. Over the last three years LGBT Jigsaw has provided information, advice and support to over a thousand LGBT young people online, in person and through community outreach.

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.

LGBT Jigsaw is proud to annouce the launch of it’s guide for services for LGBT young people. This resource is currently only available online. Download your PDF copy here.This is a quick guide to LGBT Jigsaw, a one-stop-shop for young (25 or under) lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people across London who are homeless or having trouble at home.

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.

There has been increasing discussion in the media about sexuality and religion. Such as Christian workers losing their jobs because it entails providing an equal service to LGBT people, something they feel unable to do.

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.)

Sharon Greene reports:
A case brought to the appeals court by an asylum seeker from Eritrea, has ruled that under the Children’s Act 2004 that Local Authorities now have a responsibility to ensure that when the welfare of a young person requires it accommodation should be made available.

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

Recently announced cuts to housing benefits could have a significant impact on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) community, especially its young people. We might all be in this together but are we all likely to suffer the same?

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.