How does childhood trauma and victimisation contribute to youth homelessness and criminal misconduct? A study of influences on young people’s propensity to offend and the role of professionals in supporting homeless young people into living a crime free life

Homeless youth experience social exclusion on numerous fronts, as they are a demographic who occupy the margins of the social, economic and civil spheres of English society. It is the misrepresentation of these marginalised youth that has contributed to this ostracism. Therefore, the crux of this study is to gain a thorough insight into the realities of youth homelessness and crime, through the lens of the lived experiences of young homeless people and the professionals who work directly with them. This insight is attained through the application of grounded theory with a substantial emphasis on ethnography, consisting of professional and research reflection, participant observation, life-story, in-depth, semi-structured interviews, and analysis.
This use of grounded theory and the accounts of their lived experiences challenges the societal isolation of the marginalised homeless youth themselves. It draws upon their own ‘first person’ accounts of being homeless, addressing issues including discrimination, racism, bullying, victimisation, coping and survival mechanisms, family life and parental influence, opportunities and reasons for criminal behaviour, limited access to education, conventional employment and housing.
A key question raised through this research is ‘how does childhood trauma and victimisation contribute to youth homelessness and criminal misconduct’. The findings were clear that there was a direct correlation between suffering early traumatic or abusive experiences through primary caregivers (guardians) and later homelessness and involvement in criminal activity. Deterrents such as police action or punishment were not a motivating factor in refraining from criminal behaviours, rather moral or religious beliefs often served to dissuade involvement in criminal activity. Perceptions of crime also varied greatly between the young people interviewed which had significant bearing on the research findings. In seeking to establish if there was a direct correlation between homelessness and crime, the findings illustrated the complexities in defining the young person’s status of ‘perpetrator’ or ‘victim’ – with some homeless youth occupying both roles simultaneously.
The practical implications of this research are multifaceted. In the first instance, it serves to clarify many of the societal and professionals misunderstandings around the issues affecting homeless youth as well as the characters and motivations of the youth themselves. As the research progressed, it became clear that there is sufficient confusion to warrant a systematic ethnographic review. Secondly, this work challenges the debilitating stereotypes of homelessness, providing a perspective on youth homelessness that is up to date and rooted in lived experience whilst raising awareness of the actual challenges faced by homeless youth.
In addition, this research makes a meaningful contribution to the scholarly literature examining the topic of youth who experience homelessness and crime. Too often, young people’s voices are rarely heard in relation to the issues and actions that deeply affect them. This research represents an attempt to build an academic study around the voices and perspectives of the homeless youth.
Finally, if the concerned authorities, policy makers, academics, youth, and social work professionals are serious about resolving this significant social, ethical and moral matter in a purposeful manner, they need to consider the reality of the challenges that homeless young people face. The findings and recommendations laid out in this study clearly highlight the key issues that need to be addressed, as identified by the young people themselves, and those who work with them. This can subsequently enable policy makers and experts to find more workable, viable and sustainable solutions to the issues related to youth homelessness and crime.