Criminology Research Council grant ; (35/88)
The objective of the research was to examine the violent experiences of young people after they had left home and had been living without anywhere permanent to stay. The report is based on data from intensive interviews conducted in Victoria with 51 young people under the age of 18 years. The research team included 10 young people who had experienced homelessness.
The research report noted that, contrary to some popular images, homelessness is not a carefree freedom enjoyed by rebellious teenagers. It is filled with anxieties about survival. Nearly all homeless youth spoke of feeling scared for their personal safety and spoke of a vulnerability to violence as a major source of fear.
For young men, the major sources of violence were physical fights with other young men (often strangers) which occurred in public spaces. For young women, the major source was young men who were often described as 'friends'. The vulnerability of young women to sexual assault and harassment was recognised by both sexes. The research report stated the second major source of violence for both sexes was police officers. These assaults most often involved more than one officer and most often occurred in police stations following an initial confrontation in public spaces.
The report commented upon the extent to which young people suffer their violent victimisation without seeking help or reporting incidents.
The report made recommendations in relation to a number of policy issues and areas:
- It is recommended that the government has to address the economic, educational and welfare policies which deny youth the possibility of living safe, independent lives; young people living away from home should be assisted with access to employment, education and housing opportunities and welfare benefits.
- A longer-term need is to address constructions of masculinity and their relationships to violence.
- In the immediate future a number of other specific policy recommendations present themselves. These fall into the following major areas:
- housing options for young women (who are particularly vulnerable);
- the daily dilemma - (how and where young people out of work or school spend their day; the need for a place for them to go where they are safe and free from harassment; the need for programs which allow homeless youth to spend their time constructively);
- policing problems (the need for police training in the handling of young people; accountability and redress in case of allegations of police maltreatment); and
- health/service access and response (particularly in relation to victims of violence).