Deadline: 24-Jul-2026
This UK-wide grant programme funds homelessness organisations to improve safety, inclusivity, and service quality for LGBT+ young people experiencing homelessness. It supports long-term organisational change, with funding allocated to strengthen safeguarding, staff capability, and inclusive service delivery systems across youth homelessness services.
Programme Overview
The Funding Safer, Inclusive Homelessness Support for LGBT+ Young People programme is designed to transform how homelessness services operate for young people, ensuring that LGBT+ individuals receive consistent, safe, and affirming support.
Rather than short-term projects, the fund prioritises systemic change within organisations, particularly in policies, safeguarding frameworks, staff training, and organisational culture.
Key Focus Areas
The programme prioritises:
- Generalist homelessness support for young people (housing advice, outreach, prevention, hostels, supported accommodation)
- Embedding LGBT+ inclusive practices across all services
- Strengthening safeguarding systems and risk management
- Improving placement and accommodation decision-making
- Enhancing staff training, supervision, and professional development
- Building inclusive organisational culture and systems
- Addressing heightened risks faced by LGBT+ young people
- Increasing participation of youth with lived experience
- Improving sector-wide learning and service quality
Funding Structure
- Funding per organisation: £200,000 total
- Duration: 4 years
- Annual allocation: £50,000 per year
- Number of organisations supported: up to 6
- Additional awards: 1–2 “established practice” grants for organisations with exemplary LGBT+ inclusion practice
No separate application is required for the established practice category.
Programme Objectives
The fund aims to:
- Improve safety and inclusion in homelessness services
- Strengthen organisational systems and safeguarding practices
- Embed LGBT+ affirming approaches in service delivery
- Improve outcomes for vulnerable young people
- Enhance staff capability and supervision structures
- Ensure meaningful participation of young people in service design
- Support long-term cultural and structural transformation
- Promote equitable access to homelessness support services
Eligible Applicants
Applicants must:
- Be registered not-for-profit organisations in the UK
- Have annual income between £250,000 and £3 million (based on latest accounts)
- Have proven experience working with young people
- Demonstrate commitment to inclusive, youth-informed practice
- Provide general homelessness support services
Eligible organisations may include those delivering:
- Housing advice services
- Youth outreach programmes
- Hostels or supported accommodation
- Homelessness prevention services
Core Requirement: Lived Experience Involvement
A central requirement is the meaningful inclusion of:
- Young people with lived experience of homelessness
- LGBT+ youth voices in service design and evaluation
Their involvement must influence:
- Service design
- Delivery models
- Decision-making processes
- Ongoing service improvement
Expected Outcomes
The programme is expected to deliver:
- More inclusive and safer homelessness services
- Improved safeguarding and risk assessment systems
- Better outcomes for LGBT+ young people
- Stronger staff awareness and competency
- More consistent service delivery standards
- Greater youth participation in service governance
- Long-term organisational transformation
Why This Programme Matters
This funding is significant because it:
- Addresses inequalities faced by LGBT+ young people in homelessness systems
- Improves safety and safeguarding in vulnerable service settings
- Promotes systemic, not temporary, service reform
- Strengthens youth participation and lived experience leadership
- Builds long-term inclusive practice across the UK homelessness sector
- Enhances consistency and quality of support services nationwide
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applications may be weaker if they:
- Focus only on short-term activities instead of systemic change
- Lack clear safeguarding improvement plans
- Do not demonstrate experience working with young people
- Fail to include meaningful lived experience involvement
- Do not show organisational readiness for transformation
- Ignore LGBT+ inclusion as a core operational priority
- Provide vague or non-measurable outcomes
Tips for a Strong Application
- Clearly show how systems and policies will change long-term
- Demonstrate strong safeguarding and governance frameworks
- Provide evidence of youth engagement in service design
- Embed LGBT+ inclusion across all organisational levels
- Include staff training and supervision improvement plans
- Show measurable outcomes for service improvement
- Highlight organisational readiness for sustained transformation
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for this funding?
UK-based registered not-for-profit organisations working with young people experiencing homelessness.
What is the funding amount?
£200,000 per organisation over four years.
What services are supported?
General homelessness services such as outreach, housing advice, hostels, and supported accommodation.
What is the main goal of the programme?
To make homelessness services safer and more inclusive for LGBT+ young people.
Is lived experience required?
Yes, meaningful involvement of young people with lived experience is essential.
How many organisations will be funded?
Up to six organisations, plus 1–2 with established best practice.
Is this a short-term funding programme?
No, it is designed for long-term organisational transformation.
Conclusion
This UK funding programme strengthens homelessness services by embedding LGBT+ inclusive practices and improving safeguarding systems for young people. By focusing on long-term organisational change and lived experience leadership, it aims to create safer, more equitable, and more effective support systems for LGBT+ youth experiencing homelessness.
For more information, visit Henry Smith Foundation.