Advertisement
Housing

London’s first LGBTQ+ homeless shelter is opening its doors

Stonewall Housing and The Outside Project have teamed-up to provide the shelter with funding from Sadiq Khan’s Rough Sleeping Innovation Fund

London hosted its annual Pride parade celebration last weekend – but it has been without a permanent LGBTQ+ homeless shelter until now.

The Outside Project is changing that, after teaming-up with Stonewall Housing to offer a place of respite for rough sleepers who identify as LGBTQ+ — up to 24 per cent of the nation’s young rough sleeping population, according to The Albert Kennedy Trust.

https://twitter.com/LGBTIQoutside/status/1016089555982868480

The Dagenham-based project has previously existed on wheels, using Metallica’s old tour bus to offer shelter for homeless people in the English capital as part of a successful pilot last winter.

But they will be given the chance to put down roots after securing funding from London mayor Sadiq Khan’s Rough Sleeping Innovation Fund. Being housed in a building will offer more than just relief from life on the streets with a cultural and artistic hub, a café space, pop-up businesses and co-working space for marginalised groups.

Carla Ecola, founder of The Outside Project said: “We welcome the support of the Mayor’s office following a year-long campaign driven by London’s LGBTQ+ activist, artist & homeless community. We look forward to building on our work with Stonewall Housing, in solidarity with our community & the inspiring LGBTIQ+ centres & services that exist in London.”

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

Rough sleepers will also be given the opportunity to connect with Stonewall Housing’s wrap-around support network, offering holistic casework and advice as well housing and employment support.

Bob Green OBE, CEO of Stonewall Housing, said: “LGBT+ people are more at risk of sleeping on the street and often avoid mainstream services so we are looking forward to working with the Greater London Authority and other projects that they are funding through this initiative in order to support more LGBT+ people to find safe housing and to access a range of services and social networks through the community space where they can celebrate their identity and achieve their full potential.”

Image: Flickr/Garry Knight

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Never miss an issue

Take advantage of our special subscription offer. Subscribe from just £9.99 and never miss an issue.

Recommended for you

Read All
Young people quitting London over housing crisis: 'Owning a home is a distant dream'
London skyline
Housing crisis

Young people quitting London over housing crisis: 'Owning a home is a distant dream'

Introduce inspections for temporary housing to stop children living in horror homes, Labour told
a child at the window of their home
Homelessness

Introduce inspections for temporary housing to stop children living in horror homes, Labour told

Tenants win more than £250,000 of rent back from billionaire landlord in five-year legal battle
Somerford Grove Renters in Hackney
Renting

Tenants win more than £250,000 of rent back from billionaire landlord in five-year legal battle

This is the devastating impact growing up in temporary accommodation has on children’s GCSE results
school children at desks
Education

This is the devastating impact growing up in temporary accommodation has on children’s GCSE results

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue