Housing & Homelessness

Housing scarcity, insecure housing, sleeping rough, couch surfing, struggling to find housing and homelessness are issues faced by trans and gender diverse people around Australia.      

This can look like struggling to rent or purchase a property due to discrimination, being in insecure housing while affirming your gender, because you’re still living with family or people who don’t respect your identity due to age or financial hardship, or a range of other factors. Everyone deserves a safe place to live, and there are safer space housing options for you.

This page was developed in collaboration with Twenty10.

Homelessness is a major issue facing trans people in Australia.

Recent Australian research found that one in five trans young people had experienced homelessness at some point in their lives 1.

Homelesses can occur for any person, cis or trans, in any community. It is most prevalent, however, for those who are most marginalised and vulnerable in society, including trans people who face other forms of marginalisation.

The rates of homelessness experienec by trans people are a result of a number of unique factors, such as:.

• Difficulty being at home where parents, family or carers are not supportive

• Family and community attitudes, beliefs and behaviours towards identity

• Family rejection, family and domestic violence

• Isolation and exclusion

• Mental health issues, impacts of trauma, impact of experiencing transphobia, homophobia, biphobia and microaggressions

• Lack of trans awareness and competency in institutions and services providing  housing, income support, health and other basic needs

• Barriers to education and employment

• Barriers when it comes to names on paperwork rental history

• Limited trans and broader LGBTQ+ specialist homelessness services.

While specialist homelessness services (SHS) for the trans community are limited, there is a list of the available services in NSW here. Homelessness services are available not only for people who are homelessness, but for people who are at a risk of homelessness.

When accessing another service, it can be helpful to ask about their trans affirming policies, and our 10 Questions list available below is a great resource for helping do this.

When looking for a place to rent that will be affirming of your gender, it can sometimes be a good idea to ask for word of mouth recommendations from community members, or join a queer housing group on Facebook for your local area.

In general, you have the right to rent accommodation in the same way as anyone else. A real estate agent or landlord can't refuse you accommodation because you are transgender. You also have the right not to be harassed while renting accommodation because you are transgender.

Anti-Discrimination NSW

The Tenants Union in NSW have a wide range of information regarding your rights when renting or applying for a property as well as advice, letter templates and more to support you if you feel that you’ve been treated unfairly because you’re trans, including getting evicted. Find our more on their website, which includes information about legal pathways and tribunals that are accessible for tenants.

There are some specific challenges for younger trans folks who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

There are services available where you can make your own decisions about where you live, who you live with and spend time with, and where you can be safe.

In NSW, services such as Twenty10 and The Gender Centre can assist in linking you into crisis or temporary accommodation and then connect you with their housing services (6 - 18 months). A case manager will help you set goals.

Services can help with furniture and other items you might need to get started. If you want to connect with other services (that may not be trans specific, but will have options) you can find them by calling Link2Home on 1800 152 152.

If you are experiencing violence in your current housing, there are other support services you can contact who can assist you, and you can find out more about those services on our Domestic and Family Violence page.

Older trans people can also experience a range of housing related challenges, including in retirement housing and aged care housing. A lack of training, knowledge and acceptance by staff in aged, group or retirement housing, as well as other tenants can be a barrier to safe housing. It’s important to remember the same anti-discrimination laws in housing apply to trans people of all ages. You can find out more about specific resources on our Ageing page.

Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG) is an organisation advocating on behalf of and assisting trans seniors into housing. Find out more about what they do on their website.