Debbie Roberts (Chair) Transgender Awareness & Diversity Training An introduction to Trans Housing needs for Service Providers.

Accommodation Officer And E & D group member with special responsibility for Gender Re-assignment I am the first person to transition in the organisations history our Transgender Policy has just been awarded the TPAS award for the Northern Region and the Local Government Social Housing Equality Framework (Shef) accreditation achieving ‘Excellent’ level first RSL to do so 06/26/10

• 2 Health requirements including Transitioning Trans Community Priority Needs Rigorous Community Consultation has identified • 1 Housing • 2 Health requirements including Transitioning • 3 Employment • 4 Personal Safety, Hate Crime, Policing etc. 3

Crisis Points for • 1 Coming Out / Being Discovered Transgender People • 1 Coming Out / Being Discovered • 2 Informing Partner, Friends & Family • 3 Coming out at work • 4 Transitioning 4

Result of Transitioning or Discovery • 1 Ostracised and made to feel guilty • 2 Young People Thrown out of Family Home • 3 TG Partner forced to leave Family Home • 4 Can easily become homeless • 5 Loneliness-loss of all social Networks 5

• 1 Unwelcoming, Rejection and Discrimination What Trans people face when Crisis presenting for Housing (Often not at their best) • 1 Unwelcoming, Rejection and Discrimination • 2 Staff unsure what to do ? Male or Female? • 3 Personal Safety-Self Harming, Suicide • 4 Physically assaulted (Staff & Residents) 6

• 1 Street Crime • 2 Arrest for vagrancy (No Funds) What Homeless Trans people may be involved in to survive • 1 Street Crime • 2 Arrest for vagrancy (No Funds) • 3 Drugs and Prostitution • 4 Physically assaulted • 5 Discrimination by NHS & other Agencies 7

The unfunded Voluntary Trans Groups may intervene in a few cases • 1 Short term support and accommodation • 2 May have the right contacts to intervene locally • 3 May even be rejected by the victim • 4 Has insufficient capacity for long term action 8

Positive Steps to resolve these Issues • 1 Introduce positive Equality and Anti-discrimination policies in Housing • 2 Train Staff to treat Trans people with Dignity & Respect & have a policy to follow • 3 Train contractors staff in Trans Awareness • 4 Set up a Tenants LGBT Group • 5 Explicitly invite LGBT people to become Tenants and Employee's 9

Further Positive Steps • 6 Use monitoring to inform on Equality and Discrimination • 7 Special Housing Projects in safe areas • 8 Attend LGBT events such as Pride & Sparkle • 9 Increase priority for Trans people as extra Vulnerable people •10 Protect against Hate Crime & if necessary move offenders •11 Mystery Shopping by Trans people 10

•1 Providing Community Safe Houses The largely Unfunded Voluntary Trans Communities Own Actions include •1 Providing Community Safe Houses •2 Michael Causer Foundation housing for young LGBT •3 Albert Kennedy Trust houses young LGBT people •4 Lobbing Councils and Housing Authorities to provide safe housing – inputs to their policies 11

• 1 Refuge for some Homeless Trans People Trans Voluntary Community Safe House Provides • 1 Refuge for some Homeless Trans People • 2 A safe space for people to be “themselves” • 3 Respite care for those who can't dress at home • 4 A place to sample Transitioning before committing • 5 Validated Address for Trans Offenders release 12

Our Voluntary Community Safe House Provides • 7 Holiday retreat for Trans and or supporters etc. • 8 A meeting space for the community • 9 A place to learn necessary life skills • 10 A safe space to interact with the media 13

Older LGBT People & Social Care • May not be accepted by their peers • LGB may have to go back in the closet • Trans may not be able to go back in the Closet • Can be ostracised and denied normal care • Great need for Education & Training • E&HRC report that the worst areas of Discrimination & Abuse of Trans people is Social care and the NHS 14