Over ten thousand LGBTI young people were made homeless in the UK this year, new Liberal Democrat figures show. The UK centrist political party say the extent of the ‘national scandal’ UK homeless youth face is now clear.

Freedom of information requests from 234 councils across the country shows 45,000 18-24 year-olds came forward to local authorities in past year. Figures from Albert Kennedy Trust show that of young homeless people in the UK, one in four is LGBTI. Therefore, of the astonishingly high number of young people who have come forward to say they are either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless – an estimated 11,250 are LGBTI.

However, with more than 100 local authorities not providing information – the Guardian reports the real statistic could be much higher. Vince Cable the leader of the Lib Dems, who carried out the research, says the revelation exposes a ‘national scandal.’

The AKT figures make the LGBTI representation among homeless young teens hugely disproportionate. Additionally, they also show coming out is the reason nearly four in five of the young LGBTI teens AKT spoke to become homeless.

Moreover, once homeless, LGBTI youth are more likely to experience targeted violence and discrimination. They are also more likely to abuse drugs, face sexual exploitation, and take more risks in their sex lives.

Speaking at the announcement of their partnership with National Student Pride next year, Tim Sigsworth Albert Kennedy Trust CEO says: ‘AKT believe that youth homelessness is the most pressing human rights issue facing the UK LGBT+ community. No young person should have to choose between a safe home and being who they are.’ Read more via Gay Star News