© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
© 2025 News On The Block. All rights reserved.
News on the Block is a trading name of Premier Property Media Ltd.
Do Some Good, a portal set up by professionals from SAY Property Consulting, deverellsmith and Greystar to pool real estate support during the COVID-19 crisis, is this Pride month supporting akt, a charity supporting young LGBTQ+ people aged 16-25 facing or experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment, find a safe place to live.
Since the outbreak, akt has seen a spike in cases due to young people being confined and inadvertently, or forcibly, being outed to families and guardians who disapprove of an individual’s sexuality. This has left a significant number of young people helpless with nowhere to go, with families threatening and enacting verbal and physical violence.
akt is providing young LGBTQ+ people with a safe space through Purple Door, the UK’s first emergency accommodation for LGBTQ+ youth.
Purple Door provides the safety and space for young LGBTQ+ people to secure longer-term housing, employment, training and support with money management, whilst learning to live independently.
The property industry can pledge its support and offer space to Purple Door through the Do Some Good portal.
According to a survey by Estates Gazette, 81% of LGBTQ+ property professionals felt that not enough was being done nationwide within the industry to promote the visibility of the LGBTQ+ community.
Throughout June, Do Some Good will also promote the visibility of LGBTQ+ property professionals through the #seemenow challenge on Linkedin.
The challenge encourages participants to speak out on why visibility is important to them through a selfie with a home-made sign, as simple as a post-it note or A4 piece of paper. Participants are encouraged to take part in the initiative before waiting for a nomination and donate to the cause.
In the month where Pride would usually fill the streets with positive light, laughter and rainbow flags, the property industry has the opportunity to support the LGBTQ+ community by:
- Joining Do Some Good’s Linkedin #seemenow visibility awareness campaign
- Fundraise for resources and suppli
- Offer safe housing and space for LGBTQ+ people impacted by Covid-19
Andrew Deverell-Smith, founder and CEO, deverellsmith commented: “The property industry must come together to support the LGBTQ+ community and we’re proud that Do Some Good is pledging to support these young people during these difficult times.
“We’re also proud to launch the SeeMeNow campaign to raise the visibility of LGBTQ+ professionals in property. Our industry has become much more inclusive and diverse over the last few years, but it’s crucial that we keep on raising awareness to make sure that real estate attracts and supports talented people no matter their background, sexuality or race.”
Debra Yudolph, partner, SAY said: “ Property must commit to being inclusive and diverse as an industry. The fact that so many LGBTQ+ property professionals feel that not enough is being done to promote the visibility of the community is something we must all address. I’m proud that Do Some Good has launched the SeeMeNow challenge to help raise awareness of this issue.”
Adina David, director of Flexible Housing, Greystar, commented: “Adina David, director of Flexible Housing, Greystar, commented: “The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted inequality in many parts of our society and for minority groups in particular. It is heart-breaking to see that in 2020 members of the LGBTQ+ community are still struggling to feel safe and are lacking decent shelter. We hope to see businesses across the real estate industry unite behind this cause and support akt’s essential work.”