Green Party LGBT News

Re-instate funding for the Albert Kennedy Trust	15 November 2007
Summary LGBT Housing Survey needed. Greens want clearer definitions on harassment in Housing. Greens push for help for victims of homophobic harassment.

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urther to the homophobic harassment of a number of constituents in the Queen's Park ward, Green Councillors are calling for stronger action on harassment in housing in Brighton and Hove. Green Councillors cite the lack of clarification in the Council's housing policy as the root of the problem. Harassment is not clearly mentioned in the Bandings for priority for moving.

In response to the lack of clarification,

* Ben Duncan, Green Councillor for Queen's Park, will ask
questions to the Equalities Forum to examine the city's Housing Strategy to see what strategies can be used both to reduce harassment and help those to move if necessary where they are being harassed.



* Meanwhile Bill Randall, Green Councillor for Hanover and Elm
Green, will examine methods to get the Environment Committee to look at the Choice Based Lettings scheme and the Tenancy Agreement to then take the issue back to the Housing Committee.



* Green Councillors are pursuing the issue of hate crime,
discrimination and harassment, which affects minority groups, particularly the LGBT community, in different contexts throughout the city



"The Green LGBT Group and Green Councillors, as we indicated in our submission in August to Brighton and Hove Council's Housing Consultation are very worried that at this point in time, harassment of LGBT residents of Brighton and Hove is continuing with no strong checks."
Stated Phelim Mac Cafferty on behalf of the Group, "Harassment and hate crimes aimed at the LGBT community, whether in accommodation or homeless requires particular attention. We believe that there is insufficient investment into research looking into hate crime prevalence and perceptions of safety within the LGBT community and would wish to see a commitment from the council to invest in such research, to enable a coherent strategy to reduce these hate crime trends.



Phelim continued: "The ill-effects of harassment include the rise of 'sofa surfing' as tenants seek alternative accommodation to escape harassment which can be debilitating to health. We know that others have become homeless because of harassment and end up in a 'downward cycle'
of circumstances which can keep people on the streets.



"What we need is a survey on the housing and health needs of the LGBT communities, because of the detrimental damage caused to the emotional/ psychological and physical health of those who have uncertainty hanging over their heads with regard to housing.



"We also believe that the city council should reinstate its financial support for the Albert Kennedy Trust, which works with vulnerable and homeless young people from the LGBT community. With the erosion of funding for social housing and the lack of creation of substantial new Council-maintained housing stock, we also feel that there needs to be an increase in supported housing for those in vulnerable situations - whether homeless, poorly-housed or suffering harassment or domestic violence."

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