Trauma and Victimization

Trauma, Victimization, and Homelessness

Trauma and victimization are omnipresent in the lives of homeless people. Their lives are typically characterized by extreme poverty, economic hardship, residential instability, and racism—all of which may lead to subtle and overt forms of victimization. In addition to their exposure to these systemic forces in our society, which are intrinsically victimizing and traumatic, homeless people are faced with more frequent, intense, and unpredictable stressors compared to their housed counterparts. Many of these experiences, including homelessness itself, random violence, physical or sexual abuse, abrupt separations, and sudden catastrophic illness, may be traumatic.

Homelessness is a devastating and often traumatic event that is frequently compounded by violence and victimization. Losing a home also means losing one's neighborhood, support system, daily routine, privacy, and feelings of safety, comfort, and familiarity. Many homeless people have lived in poor communities riddled with both random and interpersonal violence, and are already suffering from some of the invidious effects of these experiences. It is also not uncommon for women and their children to lose their homes because they are fleeing an abusive relationship or for teenagers to run away from abusive home environments. Once a person is living on the streets, the likelihood of victimization increases over time. Many homeless people living in the rough are physically abused and emotionally isolated. The street homeless may also be subject to incarceration by police for vagrancy, disorderly conduct, and offenses related to substance use. They may be further victimized in jail, setting the stage for severe posttraumatic responses to these experiences.

Abrupt separations, which are particularly common in homeless families, are another source of trauma. Interpersonal violence may lead to abrupt out-of-home placement of children. Family separations may also occur when shelter rules exclude men and teenage boys. These rules rob families of their strength and supportive qualities as a unit and may traumatize both children and parents.

Homeless people suffer from more acute and chronic medical illnesses than their housed counterparts. These illnesses tend to be exacerbated by their lack of a home (for example, from exposure to the elements) and by their compromised access to health care. Often they receive services only when these illnesses have progressed, which necessitates more intensive treatment or even hospitalization. Treating conditions such as cellulitis, hypertension, and diabetes is extremely challenging when patients are living on the streets or in shelters. Sudden catastrophic illness or severely debilitating chronic conditions are very stressful and often traumatic.

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