This is not just a concern for younger LGBTQ+ people, who are at a high risk of homelessness. Discrimination can be a lifelong reality for LGBTQ+ people. We’re seeing how precarious the lives of older LGBTQ+ can be, or the risks of them having to "return to the closet" should they need to move into care settings. For our older LGBTQ+ community, they grew up in a time when homosexuality was illegal, when gay men (in particular) would be refused insurance or mortgages, and they faced the stigma of the 1980s HIV/AIDS epidemic. Teaching in schools of gay relationships was prohibited until as recently as 2002.
Has progress been made? Yes – and no. In 2010 new laws under The Equality Act were introduced to protect people from discrimination and promote equality of opportunity. These laws apply to organisations such as local authorities and social housing providers. Whilst changes in law are encouraging and do give some leverage over bad practice, limited resources to "police" non-compliance means bad practice and discrimination still exists.
With the pejorative narratives around diversity, equality and inclusion work in the US re-emerging, and the repealing of rights for many of the LGBTQ+ community, there are significant worries for how these attitudes may play out more broadly. We know that for many people in the LGBTQ+ community, discrimination and abuse are key contributing factors to homelessness. The trauma that many experience has a lasting legacy, continuing to negatively impact their life courses.
The world of housing policy is complicated. If it weren’t the problems we see would be fixed. But that doesn’t mean we can’t make change. In the spirit of this year’s LGBT+ History Month, coming together as a community, or an ally, will be a step in the right direction to help people realise support is available, people do have someone they can turn to for help.
Being able to highlight these problems by improving data collection is a huge step forward. We urgently require long-term solutions driven by the government, but for people who need help, support and secure accommodation to be able to live their lives and have hope and ambitions right now, we need to act with kindness and compassion – and put individuals at the centre of their own housing future.
Dr Gareth Young is a Research Associate at the University of Glasgow-based UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE).
Agenda is a column for outside contributors. Contact: agenda@theherald.co.uk