Around 10,000 LGBT youth were made homeless this year, new report finds
New figures reveal that one in four homeless people in the UK identify as LGBT
Over ten thousand LGBT youth were made homeless in the UK this year, new Liberal Democrat figures reveal.
A report released on Christmas Day revealed that nearly 45,000 people aged between 18 and 24 had approached local authorities to seek assistance earlier this year.
The figures were requested by the political party the Liberal Democrats and were obtained from over 200 local councils by Freedom of information requests, Gay Star News reports.
Meanwhile, research from the Albert Kennedy Trust found that a quarter of homeless youth identifies as LGBT and it’s estimated that the total number of LGBT youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless are around 11,250.
However, as more than 100 local authorities refused to share information, the actual statistic of homeless people could be higher.
Sir Vince Cable, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, called the figures a “national scandal.”
In a statement to The Guardian, he said: “These figures reveal the hidden homelessness crisis affecting young people.”
“The situation is being made worse by recent government decisions, stripping young people of housing benefit.”
A spokesperson for the government addressed the findings in a statement. They said: “Councils have a duty to help those most in need of temporary accommodation, and we continue to spend £24bn a year helping people across the UK with their housing costs.”
“The UK Government is providing over £1bn up to 2020 to reduce all forms of homelessness.”