The archive celebrates the organisation’s legacy and ongoing mission to ensure no LGBTQIA person faces homelessness
BY YASMIN VINCE, IMAGES SUPPLIEDÂ
Stonewall Housing has spent over 40 years supporting LGBTQIA people facing homelessness. To mark LGBT+ History Month and the organisation’s legacy, it is hosting a free archive display, offering a glimpse into its rich history of activism and advocacy.Â
The archives will be displayed at VFD’s Outsiders Gallery in Dalson on 1 February. The event is free and open to the public. Steven McIntyre, CEO of Stonewall Housing said: “By sharing our archives and acknowledging ongoing challenges, we honour the diversity and complexity of our community.”
Stonewall Housing will also be launching a new workshop series, exploring LGBTQIA history through the lens of housing, identity and resilience. “The workshops draw on our archive materials, from our activist beginnings to today,” Steven explains. The workshops are part of the organisation’s commitment to education. Attendees can explore the intersections of LGBTQIA identity and housing, learning about the determination that has shaped their four-decade journey.Â
Founded in 1983, Stonewall Housing has been at the forefront of supporting LGBTQIA people facing or at risk of homelessness. The group was founded at a time of immense prejudice and homophobia, born to create safe spaces where LGBTQIA people could find home and community. Since then, it has expanded its services to include a helpline and advocacy work for mental health, substance misuse and domestic abuse.
“Although we’ve made progress since those early days, the need for our work has only grown,” says Steven. “The housing crisis continues to disproportionately affect LGBTQ+ people, with many facing discrimination, family breakdowns, and hate crimes that leave them in precarious situations.”
“Intersectionality is central to what we do,” adds Steven. More than a quarter of the people Stonewall Housing supports are trans or gender non-conforming, and over a half are Black or from other non-white ethnic groups. As well as homophobia, these individuals face racism and transphobia.
Claire Linacre-Hilton, Stonewall Housing’s Director of Development, stresses the importance of continued support: “Harmful rhetoric and policies not only create a hostile environment but also embolden hate crimes and further marginalise those already vulnerable.” As such, Stonewall Housing invites the public to get involved by spreading the word, volunteering or providing financial support.
“Our mission remains the same,” Claire adds. “To ensure no LGBTQ+ person faces homelessness or housing insecurity alone.”
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