Leeds gave me a home: Chege’s journey from asylum seeker to refugee
Chege waited ten years for his refugee status – having a stable home with Micro Rainbow for the past 6 years was life changing.
24 September 2026
Housing
Providing safe, temporary housing for LGBTQI people seeking asylum
countries criminalise homosexuality
LGB people have claimed asylum in the UK since 2015 (The Home Office)
the number of bed nights provided by Micro Rainbow every year
Are you an LGBTQI asylum seeker in need of safe accommodation?
Contact our Housing team by emailing housing@microrainbow.org or find out more information about the support we offer below.
Why we run safe houses dedicated solely to LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees
In 66 countries homosexuality is illegal. 1,500 LGBTQI asylum seekers from those countries come to the UK every year.
When they come to the UK they are still not safe. Because of their sexuality, gender identity, gender expression or intersex status they often:
- are abused in asylum seeker accommodation by other people seeking asylum who often come from the same countries they are escaping from
- become homeless and depressed
- are rejected by their ethnic community and live in poverty
We can only house LGBTQI asylum seekers receiving full Section 95 or Section 4 support.
What we are doing to help LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees
Micro Rainbow opened the first safe house in the United Kingdom dedicated solely to LGBTQI asylum seekers. Our houses provide a safe and temporary shelter for all LGBTQI asylum seekers. They are located in the South East and North West of the UK, in East Anglia, the West Midlands and South Wales.
We also provide Moving On services as well as various Social Inclusion programmes.
Watch our latest film, Who’s There? to learn about the impact safe housing has on our community.
Awards
In recognition of Micro Rainbow’s safe housing we were winners of the following awards:
Credit: Thomson Reuters Foundation News
The story of Micro Rainbow's housing programme
We opened our first safe house for LGBTQI asylum seekers in 2017 - read on to find out why we started and why it is so important.
Other services for LGBTQI asylum seekers and refugees
Help us create a world where no LGBTQI person seeking safety is left behind
Our work is only possible because of people like you. Your support helps us provide housing, community, and opportunities to those rebuilding their lives after fleeing persecution.
There are many ways to take action. You can donate or become an ally to help sustain our services, contact us if you’d like to collaborate or learn more, or give through our Amazon wishlist to provide essential items for our safe houses.
Become an ally
Show your support for LGBTQI refugees and asylum seekers by becoming a Micro Rainbow ally.
Donate items for our safehouses
Give practical help by purchasing essential items for our safehouses.
Get in touch
Get in touch to collaborate, ask questions, or make a referral for an LGBTQI asylum seeker or refugee,
Let's stay in touch
Get updates on our work, campaigns, and opportunities to stand with LGBTQI people seeking safety.
Micro Rainbow will use the information you provide on this form to email you our quarterly newsletter with the latest updates and news from us. We may occasionally email you with information about events and fundraisers.
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