latest Update 

Trans+ Winter Night Shelter

As of April 1st 2026, the Trans+ Winter Night Shelter has just completed it's second winter (2025-26) of operating in the the London Borough of Hackney.

Guest FAQs: 

Do I need ID? 
No. 

How does it all work?

Intake meeting: Following your self referral you will be invited to meet with a member of our team at our LGBTIQ+ Centre.

Induction meeting: From there, you will head over to the Trans+ Winter Night Shelter venue to meet with a member of our shelter crew who will show you around the building. This meeting is for health and safety and fire risk assessment but also gives you the chance to ask any questions and use facilities within the shelter before we open at 6pm.  

Reception: Following your intake and induction you will need to attend reception each day between 6-8pm to stay at the TWNS. 

Casework 1-1 meetings: To stay at the TWNS you will need to meet with a member of our LGBTIQ+ Centre team on a weekly basis to get support with your housing. 

What are the opening hours? 

6pm – 9am

What facilities do you have? 

Secure luggage storage. Guest lounge, kitchen and showers are open between 6-10pm and from 7am-9am. 

Can I have my own room?

Potentially, this will be discussed during your intake meeting. We have 2x shared rooms with 4 beds in each room and 4 single bedrooms. Single rooms are often reserved for emergencies, those with physical disabilities, illness, pets or otherwise in need of a private space. 

Can I bring my pet? 

Yes, we’re very pet friendly. Dogs must be on a lead in communal areas. 

I smoke, use drugs / alcohol – can I stay at the TWNS? 

Yes, however there is no smoking, drug or alcohol use inside the TWNS. When reception closes there is no re-entry to the TWNS so if your smoking, drug or alcohol use needs to be maintained overnight, the security boundaries of a night shelter might be difficult for you to manage. 

Press Release: 

 

 

Press Release:

 

The Outside Project Announces their Trans Winter Night Shelter will run for a 2nd year in Hanckney

 

In 2024 we decided that - given the global political wave against Trans+ people we saw coming - the best use of our time and your support was to open a Trans+ Winter Night Shelter.

As a community we managed to build the shelter within 6 weeks and opened on Christmas Eve. The shelter provided over 900 nights off the streets over winter 2024/25.

 

Now we're doing it all again!

 

The Trans+ Winter Night Shelter will provide a safe, supportive refuge for our Trans+ community who are homeless, escaping domestic abuse, seeking asylum, refugees and at risk of sleeping rough.

 

The Outside Project invites allies, community members and policy makers to support the Trans+ Winter Night Shelter in any way possible. Tell your rich friends, your boss and your local MP.

 

For press, sponshership or corporate partnership enquires, please contact our co-founder Laik

 

> SUPPORT OUR CROWDFUNDER <

 

Further information:

 

Addressing the need for housing trans+ people in London

 

The Trans+ Winter Night Shelter is a direct community-led action in response to the need for crisis housing amongst the most marginalised members of the LGBTIQ+ community, people that we see everyday at our LGBTIQ+ Centre and through our Outreach service in Westminister.

 

Trans+ people face unique risks and discriminition when homeless and attempting to access existing crisis housing services. The shelter provides private and communal bedrooms alongside offices and community space.

 

Our original campaign in 2017 to open an LGBTIQ+ Centre and shelter in London was a huge success and we're proud of our Outreach and Domestic Abuse Refuge services that launched during COVID. 

Returning to our roots of providing an emergency winter night shelter service, specifically for the Trans+ community, is something that we feel really passionate about.

The response from the community in Hackney during our call out for mutual aid assembly points during the race roits in August 2024 and solidarity we have recieved from the Hackney Night Shelter has made this action Possible.

 

Meeting the needs of the LGBTIQ+ Community

 

Since our founding in 2017, The Outside Project has campaigned for and led groundbreaking initiatives to support homeless LGBTIQ+ people in London.

From the original LGBTIQ+ Winter Night Shelter in 2017 to the COVID emergency hotel and founding of the UK's first domestic abuse refuge in 2020, the organisation works tirelessley to address the absence of LGBTIQ+ crisis housing for London's estimated 1/2 million LGBTIQ+ population.

 

Advocating for systemic change

 

While the Trans Winter Night Shelter represents a critical lifeline for Trans+ people over winter, The Outside Project continues to advocate for a permanent solution: year round, LGBTIQ+ Centres and housing in each sub-region of London.

 

Nik Hann (She/They), Operations Manager for The Outside Project, quote:

 

'Having worked frontline the past four winters with The Outside Project, it's been clear how disproportionally Trans+ people are affected by homelessness.

Gender identity is so often a core reason why Trans+ people have been made homeless, due to domestic violence, persecution in their country of origin, stigma and prejudice, and, with unequal and non-affirming access to mainstream services, Trans+ people are further pushed to the magins.

 

This is why it is so important and that we have a dedicated service this winter, and then we can move on to grow, develop this service and increase equity of access to all homelessness services for Trans+ people'

 

The Outside Project marching in the Black Trans Lives Matter protest, London, July 2021

photo credit: Carla Ecola

TWNS Art: Laik Ecola

 

Press usage disclaimer: All text, images, graphics and other content displayed on this page have been provided for press and media use. Members of the press are granted permission to reproduce, publish or distribute any materials from this page in whole or in part for editorial purposes related to the coverage of the opening of the Trans+ Winter Night Shelter 2025.

 

No additional permission is required unless the content is altered in a misleading, negative or abusive way. If you have any questions regarding usage or require additional materials please contact Laik