Why We Support Stonewall Housing - And Why Their Latest Impact Report Matters
At The Ripe Avocado, doing business responsibly is not an optional extra. It is part of who we are. As a catering company, we feed people, but we also believe in contributing to communities and working towards a world where everyone has something even more fundamental: a safe place to call home.
The Ripe Avocado proves that luxury can be inclusive, values-led and culturally rich. This commitment drives every part of our work, including our partnerships.
One of our proudest collaborations is with Stonewall Housing, the UK’s only specialist LGBTQ+ homelessness organisation supporting people of all ages. Their work is urgent, compassionate and increasingly vital, a reality clearly shown in their newly released 2024–25 Impact Report.
A Deepening Crisis
Stonewall Housing’s latest findings highlight the scale of the challenge facing LGBTQ+ communities. Demand for their services has increased by 16.6 per cent in just one year, with 3,733 LGBTQ+ people supported between April 2024 and March 2025, compared with 3,202 the previous year.
On average, the organisation now receives 75 referrals every week, alongside 690 advice calls and more than 300 online chat sessions each quarter.
Behind every statistic is someone dealing not only with housing insecurity but often rejection, discrimination, trauma or multiple systemic barriers.
Support That Recognises the Whole Person
One of the reasons The Ripe Avocado chooses to support Stonewall Housing is because their work recognises that homelessness is rarely just about a lack of bricks and mortar. For many LGBTQ+ people, particularly young people, the journey into homelessness is tied to family rejection, domestic abuse, mental health challenges, financial instability or exclusion from mainstream services.
Stonewall Housing’s wraparound approach responds to these realities. They combine housing advocacy with mental health support, domestic abuse services, financial empowerment programmes, substance use support and community-specific advice. It is a model that understands the whole person and provides practical, long-lasting solutions.
Our Work With Stonewall Housing
Our support is not only financial. We are committed to sharing time, expertise and real pathways into opportunity. Recently, we were involved with a group interview session with Splendid, a leading hospitality staffing agency that provides skilled event professionals for high-profile events across the UK and internationally. Candidates were introduced to the company and assessed on practical hospitality skills, with guidance and encouragement offered throughout. Successful applicants receive further development and training as they progress.
Highlights from the 2024–25 Impact Report
The latest report demonstrates the impact of Stonewall Housing’s approach:
100 per cent of clients accessing their specialist domestic abuse service were supported into safe and settled accommodation within six months
270 budgeting and financial empowerment sessions were delivered, helping clients build stability and long-term independence
More than 27.8 per cent of service users were trans or gender nonconforming, reflecting the significant challenges these communities face in accessing safe housing
With demand continuing to rise, Stonewall Housing is filling a crucial gap in the UK’s housing and safeguarding landscape. Their work shows how targeted, specialist support can create meaningful change even in the face of a growing crisis.
Why This Matters to Us
We support Stonewall Housing because we believe that every person deserves safety, dignity, security and the chance to live freely and authentically. Their work aligns with the world we want to help build through both our business and our partnerships. The findings of this year’s report make clear that progress is being made, but much more is still required, and supporting Stonewall Housing is one way we can contribute to meaningful, long-term change.
A Message From Jay, Founder and Managing Director
“Our partnership with Stonewall Housing is deeply important to us at The Ripe Avocado. We never wanted to choose a charity simply to tick a box. We wanted to work with an organisation where our support could make a meaningful difference to people’s lives, and Stonewall Housing does exactly that. Their work is compassionate, specialist and genuinely life-changing, and we are proud to stand alongside them.
We will continue supporting and finding new ways to collaborate into 2026 and beyond.”