A new European study has outlined the precarious reality facing LGBTIQ+ young people who experience homelessness, revealing patchy support, inconsistent services and an urgent need for coordinated action across Europe.
Led by Professor Karen Shalev , Professor of Missing Persons Studies at the University of Portsmouth, the research brings together the voices of young people who went missing as children and later identified as LGBTIQ+. Conducted in partnership with Missing Children Europe and IGLYO - The International LGBTQI Youth & Student Organisation, the study combines survey data and in-depth online interviews to examine the support these young people received and where it failed them.
Its findings point to significant gaps in awareness, training and specialist provision, particularly within and between LGBTIQ+ support networks. The study sets out a series of policy recommendations aimed at strengthening services, improving professional training and ensuring that vulnerable LGBTIQ+ children and young people across Europe are not left to navigate crisis alone.
The report, funded by the European Union, aims to give young people the opportunity to share their experiences in the hopes of helping other LGBTIQ+ children going through similar situations.
The research also found that when services were supportive and practical, young people saw them as a lifeline. However, when services were unskilled or had no clear procedures, contact was often harmful, especially with police and social services.
Participants detailed their experiences of accessing shelters and inclusive accommodation, with some describing this support as "lifesaving" - yet others found contact with services deeply negative and at times traumatic, demonstrating how services can either save lives or cause further harm. Even where some needs were met, support was frequently too short-term and inconsistent, compounded by legal limits, lack of funding, limited training, stigma and discrimination, and practical barriers. The researchers emphasise that these failings point to a clear need for better, more reliable care.
The report, which analysed data from 36 young people, also found that nearly a third of participants had witnessed or experienced some discrimination towards staff, which was related to LGBTIQ+ people. This included damaging a rainbow wall - a display representing LGBTIQ+ pride or inclusion - with offensive words which were hurtful to LGBTIQ+ people.
This showed that discrimination within the LGBTIQ+ community can affect staff too, making community spaces feel unsafe.
Professor Shalev, from the University's School of Criminology and Criminal Justice , said: "These young people are facing a number of challenges. Many can't stay at home and end up leaving or being pushed out, only to run into systems that make it harder for them to get help. It's worrying how little medium and long-term support is available.
"We were struck by how many reported additional marginalisation - notably related to neurodivergence and disability as well migration/religious minority backgrounds and how their different vulnerabilities - and the stress they experience as minorities, need urgent attention."
Participant Burak, who was born and raised in Turkey, said: "I found that there are not enough safe spaces or organisations you can go to for help. I didn't even know these places existed. This project helped me understand what happened in my life and what I can do to help other people. There should be more support for victims of domestic violence, and it should be accessible to everyone.
"I wanted to share my story to help address children's rights and do something meaningful with that experience."
"One of the most worrying findings was how many young people reported poor experiences with social services, especially when the support offered didn't match what they needed. For trans young people in particular, many services simply have nothing in place, creating a kind of double neglect where doors keep closing", added Dr Shalev. "Our next steps are to drive policy change and improve training, so these gaps are no longer ignored."
The study underscores the need for training and awareness campaigns and sets out its own policy recommendations to further support LGBTIQ+ children and young people across Europe and drive positive change.
