What we do

akt supports lgbtq+ young people aged 16-25 in the uk who are facing or experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment.

We support young people into safe homes and employment, education or training, in a welcoming and open environment that celebrates lgbtq+ identities.

akt helps young people:

Stay safe in a crisis
Find emergency accommodation
Access specialist support
Develop skills, identify and achieve life goals

We do this by providing:

Access to advice from one of our housing specialists
Connection to a mentor for one-to-one support
Access to our emergency support pack or tenancy starter pack
Accommodation with a specially trained akt host
A place to stay in our Purple Door accommodation service
A safe place with one of our many housing provider partners
Access to life skills training, events and peer support networks

Why We're Needed

Coming out, or being outed as LGBTQ+, can lead to young people being made homeless. 24% of homeless young people identify as LGBTQ+.

Once homeless, LGBTQ+ young people are more likely to face violence and discrimination than young people who aren’t LGBTQ+. They’re also more likely to develop substance misuse issues and experience sexual exploitation. This can all take a huge toll on someone’s physical and mental health.

77% of the LGBTQ+ young people we work with believe coming out at home was the main factor in causing their homelessness and so it's vital that they are supported in an environment that is inclusive and celebrates their identities in order to improve their life outcomes.

Who We Are

Founded in 1989, akt was set up in Manchester by ally Cath Hall, a foster carer who found that many gay, lesbian and bisexual young people were not receiving the care and support they need and deserve. Find out more about our history here.

why akt? because no young person should have to choose between a safe home and being who they are.

nationally: online support service

regionally: service centres in north west, north east, bristol and london providing homes, mentoring, training and support.

Latest

An Evening with Ian McKellen
Monkeypox Guidance and Resources

With the rising cases of monkeypox, we have included guidance on how and where to get a vaccine if offered. We also are including advice for what to do if you are showing symptoms of monkeypox and are homeless or have no access to local sexual health services.
Claiming Benefits While Homeless

To help you understand the support that you are entitled to in the UK we have created this resource to guide any eligible homeless person on how to access Universal Credit (UC) and disability benefits.
International Non-Binary People's Day

To celebrate the lives and loves of Non-Binary people we have put together a list of media that is created by and for Non-Binary people and which celebrates their identities!