A charity dedicated to tackling homelessness among the LGBTQ+ community has warned the findings of its latest impact report point to an escalating crisis.
Stonewall Housing says its has seen a 16.6% increase in the number of people it has supported this year; the highest since the charity was founded in 1983.
On the one hand, the growth highlights the housing and homelessness charity’s “trust and reach”, it says; on the other, it points to the growing need for its services – underlining the “escalating crisis” facing LGBTQ+ communities nationwide.
Steven McIntyre, chief executive of Stonewall Housing, said: “Safe housing is more than just four walls – it’s the foundation for everything that follows.
When an LGBTQ+ person has a home where they are safe and affirmed, they can begin to heal, to dream and to build their future with dignity. That is the heart of our work: not just ending homelessness, but helping people thrive.”
From young people rejected by family to older LGBTQ+ people navigating isolation, from prison leavers to survivors of domestic abuse, the report makes clear that homelessness does not happen in isolation.
Housing instability is often the product of multiple, overlapping challenges – including mental health needs, substance use, discrimination and systemic barriers in housing provision. Key findings of the report include:
- 3,733 LGBTQ+ people supported: a 16.6% increase from the previous year
- An average of 75 referrals every week, 690 advice calls and 300+ online chat sessions each quarter
- 100% of clients accessing its specialist domestic abuse service were rehoused in safe, settled accommodation within six months
- The organisation delivered 270 budgeting and financial empowerment sessions, giving clients the tools for long-term stability and resilience
- Over 27.8% of service users were trans or gender nonconforming; communities who often face multiple, overlapping barriers to securing safe housing
The report also shares case studies showing how compounded experiences such as being queer and a person of colour, navigating recovery from substance use without stable housing, or being over 50 and digitally excluded can leave people invisible in mainstream services.
Stonewall Housing says its holistic model responds to these realities, combining housing advocacy with specialist mental health, substance use, domestic abuse and community-specific support.
Despite the challenges, Stonewall Housing says there is “real progress”. More housing providers are signing the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge, committing to inclusive and affirming services. Meanwhile, the organisation’s Training and Consultancy team has reached record numbers of frontline professionals, embedding systemic change that can ripple across the sector.
McIntyre added: “Yes, these are challenging times – but every day we see extraordinary compassion, courage and solidarity. From volunteers and donors to housing providers and frontline staff, people are coming together to make sure LGBTQ+ people are not left behind. That collective commitment gives us hope for the future. Together, we are building a world where every LGBTQ+ person has safety, belonging, and the chance to thrive.”
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