The LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge – our commitment to equality and support for our LGBTQ+ residents
Centrepoint is proud to announce that we are applying to become a LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge accredited organisation, joining a growing network of housing providers committed to full equality and support for LGBTQ+ residents in social housing.
What is the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge and Why Is It Needed?
The Pledge is a free-of-charge scheme to which all social housing providers (including charities such as Centrepoint who are also registered housing providers) can sign up, to demonstrate commitment to LGBTQ+ resident equality and support. It was developed by HouseProud and the University of Surrey in association with residents, staff members and sector leaders to address the issues raised by the findings of ‘No Place Like Home?', the largest study ever undertaken to understand LGBTQ+ experiences of social housing. The findings of the study were stark:
- Approximately a third of survey respondents did not feel that their housing provider’s staff were always responsive to their concerns or sensitive to the needs of LGBTQ+ people
- Only a half of survey respondents felt a sense of belonging to their neighbourhood, whilst a quarter reported feeling lonely
- A third of respondents felt their housing provider was not equipped to deal effectively with harassment
These insights have highlighted the urgent need for charities and housing providers to move beyond token gestures and take meaningful action to support LGBTQ+ residents.
How and why Centrepoint is getting involved
Centrepoint is committed to ending youth homelessness – and we know that LGBTQ+ young people are disproportionately affected by homelessness, often facing rejection, discrimination, and isolation. We also believe that every young person deserves to feel safe, respected and seen – especially in the place they call home. By committing to the LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge, we are taking a proactive step to ensure our services are inclusive, affirming, and safe for all.
We have now begun working towards achieving Pledge Pioneer accreditation. To achieve this, we commit to the following:
- LGBTQ+ resident input at executive / strategic level
- Increased LGBTQ+ visibility in the organisation
- Providing specific LGBTQ+ training to Centrepoint colleagues and volunteers
The LGBTQ+ Housing Pledge is more than a badge; it’s a commitment to listening, learning, and leading the way in LGBTQ+ inclusion. Centrepoint is proud to be part of this scheme and we look forward to achieving Pledge Pioneer status.
