09:33, 03 February 2023
Words by Abi Scaife, Staff Writer, London
Brighton has opened its first-ever night shelter specifically for LGBTQIA+ people.
The shelter will run for 10 weeks as part of a pilot scheme to highlight just how badly affected the UK’s LGBTQIA+ population is by homelessness - and how important it is to have safe spaces to help them.
The shelter opened on January 23rd 2023 and has 10 beds available on a referral-only basis.
People can access the shelter for anywhere from a couple of nights to two weeks, and staff at the shelter will help them find longer-term accommodation.
The shelter provides hot food and showers, beds and communal spaces, as well as access to resources to help people fleeing domestic violence and more.
A number of charities have come together to set up the shelter in the UK’s ‘gay capital’.
Led by Charity Switchboard, The Rainbow Fund is helping by donating funds. Meanwhile, Stonewall Housing has provided a housing advocate and The Outside Project is helping with the model the shelter is based on.
To find out more about the night shelter, visit the Switchboard website.
