Stonewall Housing s London Councils Grant Programme Survey Results 1. About Stonewall Housing Stonewall Housing provides advocacy, advice and housing support, and influences housing policy and practice, in order to improve the lives of lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans* (LGBT) people. Our London housing advice service is currently funded through London Councils. We believe pan-london funding is a necessity for communities of interested / shared identities such as. 2. Who took part? We asked people before completing the survey to confirm that they identified as LGBT+ and that they lived in London. Therefore the views expressed are of LGBT+ Londoners. We define LGBT+ as people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or trans* as well as people who identify as other gender or sexuality minority groups such as intersex, asexual, gender queer etc. - 84 LGBT+ Londoners took part in the survey 3. Question 1: London housing crisis LGBT Londoners believe that London s housing crisis is: Getting better 1.19% (1) Staying the same / or I m unsure 3.57%(3) Getting worse 95.24%(80)
4. Question 2: The need for LGBT+ specific support We asked LGBT+ Londoners if they agreed that there is a need for LGBT+ specific advice, advocacy and support services Agree 97.62%(82) Unsure 0.00%(0) No 2.38%(2) 5. Question 3: continuation of the grants programme We asked LGBT+ Londoners if they supported the continuation of London Councils Grants Programme: Yes 95.24%(80) unsure 2.38%(2) No 2.38%(2) 6. Question 4: Impact of funding cuts on the community We asked LGBT+ Londoners if London Councils Grant Programme ended, how would this impact on London s LGBT+ communities: Negatively 95.24%(80) Unsure / neutral 3.57% (3) Positively 1.19% (1)
7. Question 5: Support services that are needed We asked LGBT+ Londoners what type of support services they felt London needs: Advice, advocacy and support to LGBT+ people who are in crisis 97.62%(82) Support to LGBT+ people who have become homeless 98.81%(83) Support to LGBT+ people who are experiencing domestic abuse 96.43%(81) Mental health support for LGBT+ people 96.43%(81) Support aimed specifically at younger LGBT+ people 94.05%(79) other (please use comment box to let us know) 22.62% (19) none 2.38%(2) Total Respondents: 84 8. Question 6: other comments and need for services (themes) We asked LGBT+ Londoners for other comments and suggestions for other / improved services. The key themes were: Trans* specific support services Support for victims of domestic and sexual violence Support for LGBT+ younger people Support for black and minority ethic LGBT+ people Mental health support Services of older LGBT People
9. Question 6: Other comments and need for services (full comments) We asked LGBT+ Londoners for other comments and suggestions for other / improved services. This was an open question 21 out of 84 respondents contributed. Here are the full responses (verbatim). Response 1 At GIRES we work specifically in the transgender field, and we are acutely conscious of the growing numbers of young trans people whose families reject them. Without services such as Stonewall housing, these young people's mental and physical health deteriorates rapidly, they often put themselves in danger. They desperately need both immediate help, and also guidance to assist them in accessing the services they need. Reducing the support provided by Stonewall Housing and other LGBT targeted organisations will give rise to other costs to London Authorities as these young people risk getting involved in, for instance, crime and drugs. Response 2 More and more LGBT+ people of all ages who are vulnerable and in crisis are finding it difficult to cope in the current climate of benefits cuts and austerity. Specialist organisations like Stonewall Housing are instrumental in saving people's sanity if not their lives but giving prompt practical help and advice! Response 3 Services for older people Services for BME people Response 4 Support for survivors of Child Sexual Abuse Response 5 Sexual and physical health needs (particularly with Trans people the latter is poorly understood and funded). 2. Support for LGBT people of colour as there is an interplay of culture and sexuality in many BME communities and they may be particularly at risk of abuse and homelessness. 3. Support around body image particularly for GB men. 4. Services to address higher levels of alcohol and drug use in LGBT people (as it can be
excessive). 5. Education and awareness of LGBT lives, particularly for young people, to tackle stigma. 6. Trans people are particularly vulnerable to discrimination at work. 7. Bisexual people (and trans people) can be sometimes doubly stigmatised within a wider heteronormative society and in LGBT spaces, so may need more support to address this and misconceptions around both. Response 6 Support and advice for all ages of LGBT+ people and services that recognise the intersection of sexual orientation and gender identity and other protected characteristics, something that Stonewall Housing already does so well. Response 7 Support for sex workers Response 8 I volunteer for an LGBTQ mental health charity in London which is already under funded and I can see it is very badly needed, both to help people tackle existing problems and to prevent problems from developing. It is a very cost-effective way of doing this. Response 9 I think there are a lot of adult LGBT that would be happy to offer up a room in their house for LGBF risk homeless, students, domestic abuse. There needs to be a web site to open this service up. I have a 3 bedroom house. And I'd be happy to offer up the spare room Response 10 It would help if there were more lgbtq community spaces. Also general housing support and advise for lgbtq people. Response 11 LGBT+ people are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis due to ongoing homophobia and transphobia, sexism, and precarious employment as well as intersections with other forms if discrimination and access difficulties. They are also disproportionately affected by funding cuts for this very reason. Sustaining the existing
services through funding is absolutely crucial to many people's survival - they make at be protected! Response 12 It's usually those at the bottom of the heap that get funding cuts first. Let's not go backwards, Response 13 Support for older LGBTQI people, women-only LGBTQI support services, support services for BME LGBTQI, debt and financial advice services for LGBTQI people, employment services for LGBTQI services, addiction recovery services for LGBTQI people, etc. In no particular order of priority because all are desperately needed. Response 14 Services could also include signposting to support groups and social events, support to find volunteering and paid work, access to counseling and mentoring and so much more, if there were enough funding... Response 15 Services for older lgbt+ people Response 16 More support for older LGBT+ people too, particularly around provision in care homes. Response 17 Sexual awareness. Better education for your people Response 18 Support is also needed for older LGBT people. Response 19 Direct housing
Response 20 LGBT+ specific refuges. All London boroughs to work together and at an agreed standard with the LGBT+ community Response 21 Access to NHS treatments