The Outside Project – LGBTIQ+ Centre and Trans+ Winter Night Shelter has been announced as the third prize winner in the prestigious London Homelessness Awards.
The Outside Project is the UK’s first and only LGBTIQ+ crisis housing service, founded in 2017 by people with lived experience of homelessness. Rooted in an ethos of solidarity rather than charity, the project is a grassroots non-profit that has grown from a winter night shelter to the provision of multiple year-round frontline services across London: a crisis shelter, domestic abuse refuge, an LGBTIQ+ Centre and targeted outreach in Westminster’s ‘Gay Village’.
Combining practical housing support with campaigning, protest and community events, The Outside Project amplifies the voices of marginalised LGBTIQ+ people while providing dignified and safe housing options, including for those with no recourse to public funds.
The new Trans+ Winter Night Shelter demonstrates the project’s commitment to innovation and inclusion, offering a vital refuge for those at greatest risk of rough sleeping.
Carla Ecola, Co-Founder and Managing Director, The Outside Project said:
“This award belongs to London’s LGBTIQ+ community who built and funded the Trans Winter Night Shelter, and to our dedicated crew who make it a reality day and night. Our shelter fills a critical gap, it’s an emergency, community-led response due to the lack of Trans+ safe housing in London. We’re proud that the London Homelessness Awards have recognised our work and stand in solidarity with our community.”
The team received a specially designed trophy and a cheque for £10,000 from Baroness Louise Casey at a high-profile ceremony at St Martins in the Fields attended by over 100 people from across the sector in London.
Ian Brady chaired the judging panel for the London Homelessness Awards. He said:
“Congratulations to The Outside Project, and to all six shortlisted projects. Once again, we have an extremely high quality winners in this year’s award. Here is real evidence of the endless ingenuity and determination of the organisations working with people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. We are proud to reward and broadcast their successes.”
More details about the London Homelessness Awards, including a specially commissioned film about the winners, can be found at www.lhawards.org.uk