Our shelters are for LGBTIQ+ people who have become homeless whilst living in London and do not feel able to access existing services. Residents are referred to us via our outreach and LGBTIQ+ Centre advocacy workers. We do not accept agency referrals, national or self referrals or operate a waiting list. We are a frontline only service and do not work remotely – there are a number of LGBTIQ+ youth, domestic abuse and housing advice helplines listed below.
Anira House: Our 7 bed crisis shelter based in North London. The expected stay is up to 3 months. The team are there between core hours Mon-Fri to provide support focused on your recovery from homelessness and finding long term, stable accommodation.
Star Refuge: Domestic Abuse Refuge in partnership with Star Support. Star Refuge has 11 studio flats with an expected stay of up to 6 months. The team are there between core hours Mon-Fri to provide support focused on your recovery from domestic abuse and finding long term, stable accommodation.
Trans+ Winter Night Shelter (TWNS): The Trans+ Winter Night Shelter is a winter emergency shelter operating from December – April. We are working in Partnership with Star Support, who specialise in support of LGBTIQ+ domestic abuse survivors and Micro Rainbow who specialise in support of LGBTIQ+ people who are refugees.Â
COVID / MPox Emergency Hotel: This COVID project ended in April 2023 having provided over 3000 nights in hotels for LGBTIQ+ people over the winter seasons 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23.
National LGBTIQ+ Helplines and advice services:
I am under 25 years old
If you are a young person (16-25) experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment contact LGBTIQ+ Youth Homelessness Advice Service AKT.
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If it is out of hours (after 5pm) we would suggest contacting your local council’s out of hours service for emergency accommodation. Shelter has a guide on how to do this HERE.
I am experiencing domestic violence or abuse, or think I might be
If someone is being abusive towards you in your home contact Galop National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline 0800 999 5428 Mon-Fri 10am – 5pm (Wed & Thurs 8pm)
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If it is out of hours (after 5pm) we would suggest contacting your local council’s out of hours service for emergency accommodation. Shelter has a guide on how to do this HERE.
I am over 25 years old
If you are at risk of homelessness contact Stonewall Housing LGBTIQ+ Housing Advice Line 0207 359 5767 Mon-Fri 10am – 1pm, or complete a self referral form: HERE
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If it is out of hours (after 5pm) we would suggest contacting your local council’s out of hours service for emergency accommodation. Shelter has a guide on how to do this HERE.
If it is out of hours (after 5pm or weekends) we would suggest contacting your local councils out of hours service. Shelter has a guide on how to do this HERE.
OTHER USEFUL LINKS:
- Streetlink : www.streetlink.org.uk
- Next Meal : www.nextmeal.co.uk
- The Pavement : www.thepavement.org.uk
- Women’s Aid : www.womensaid.org.uk
- Refuge : www.refuge.org.uk
- Mankind Initiative : www.new.mankind.org.uk
- LGBT Switchboard : www.switchboard.lgbt or 03003300630
Links to affordable hotel / backpackers: London Hostel Association  OYO Hotels
OUR HISTORY
Our Shelter opened in 2017 as a winter night shelter. This is the first of its kind crisis shelter service for the LGBTIQ+ Community in London. This service was initially crowdfunded for by London’s LGBTIQ+ Community during Pride 2017. It has been funded by the GLA since reopening into a year round crisis shelter in 2018.
It’s not like in the films – you don’t need to pay or queue up each night to get in. Everyone has their own room and a proper bed. We have support workers on site throughout the day. We have activities like walking groups, photography and meditation. It’s always been a low drama community space.
Emergency Hotel and housing advocacy: This was initially funded by the LGBTIQ+ Community in 2020 and 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and was funded by MHCLG over winter 2022/23. The LGBTIQ+ Centre advocacy team has been funded by MHCLG since Winter 2022.
Since 2023 we have delivered an Outreach service in Westminster commissioned by Westminster Council. If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Westminster please contact Lee@lgbtiqoutside.org to find out more about this service.
In response to COVID-19 The Outside Project initially opened STAR Refuge between June 2020-September 2021. Star Refuge is the first LGBTIQ+ Domestic Abuse Refuge in the UK and reopened as a permanent service in 2023. The refuge continues to be funded by MOPAC (Mayors Office for Policing and Crime). We have developed an independent, DVA survivor focused organisation, Star Support, with which we work in partnership.