Research Report: Thematic Analysis of Youth Rough Sleeping in London

This report examines the critical issue of youth rough sleeping in London, based on two interviews with individuals experiencing homelessness. The research, conducted for module LC533, analyzes the causes and impacts of rough sleeping, including family breakdown, mental health issues, and substance abuse. The report identifies key themes emerging from the interviews, interprets the respondents' answers, and discusses the findings in relation to social science theory and relevant policy. The findings highlight the negative effects of rough sleeping on both physical and psychological health, and the report offers recommendations to address youth homelessness. It concludes that effective strategies from both local and federal governments are needed to prevent rough sleeping in the UK.

Running head: HEALTHCARE
Healthcare
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Title: Impact of rough sleeping of youth in London
Introduction
The United Kingdom (UK) is suffering from major housing crisis which is imposing
negative impact on all the residents including the youths of the nation. Amongst the total number
of rough sleepers, more than 15 percent are found to be youths between the age of 16 and 18
years. Majority of the young individuals who are found to be suffering from homelessness are
compelled to leave home due to family violence, breakdown or when the entire family is found
to be suffering from homelessness as a consequence of a crisis. A good numbed of well-
established risk factors are there when it comes to youths rough sleeping that includes physical
and mental breakdown, increasing number of criminal activities, increasing rate of substance
abuse and violence. The severity of youth rough sleeping is highest in London (McCann and
Brown, 2019). The fact that youths suffering from homelessness are more likely to be homeless
for a prolonged time. The aim of this report is to evaluate the reason and impact of rough
sleeping based on two interviews conducted. Both of the interviewees are suffering from rough
sleeping for a prolonged period of time. 4 major themes emerging from the responses of the
participants has been discussed in this report. Along with this a detailed interpretation of the
respondent’s answer as well as themes on the basis of the social science theory and relevant
policy has been conducted.
Findings
Major findings obtained from interviewing Gemma
1. Luke has been rough sleeping for over 2 years now.
2. Luke’s reason for leaving his house is family relationship breakdown. His relationship
with his mother’s partner deteriorated.

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3. However, no physical abuse has been experienced by him.
4. After leaving home he stayed at his grandfather’s place for a good amount of time until
his grandfather got ill and stated staying at nursing home.
5. Luke was not allowed by the council to stay at his grandfather’s place.
6. Eventually, he was provided with a hostel to live in. However he ended up failing his
college coerce, stated substance abuse an also conducted crime by stealing a car and
smashing it up.
7. As a result he was placed under the bards in an youth detention and was kept there for 6
months
8. His parents drove him away.
9. Since he had no money to rent a place for himself, he decided to live at London.
10. There he stated tough sleeping at empty buildings, office blocks, churches, warehouses
and even a bridge.
11. At that point of time, he has been drove away by security guards, police or council
several times
12. Luke stated to stay with a group of rough sleepers who used to shoplift, conduct
substance abuse, collect leftover foods and others activities that helped them to survive.
13. Luke wants to stop rough sleeping badly. In order to stop rough sleeping, he intentionally
commits crime so that he can be taken in the prison so that he can have a roof above to
sleep in.
14. Luke admitted that rough sleeping has imposed negative impact on both her mental anf
physical health.

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15. Physically he has become weak due to lack of appropriate nutrients and for consuming
unhealthy food items.
16. He also suffers from hallucination and other psychological issues
17. According to Luke, the local councils are taking steps to avoid this issue by driving away
rough sleepers from their borough.
Major findings obtained from interviewing Gemma
1. Gemma has been found to be rough sleeping for over 5 years.
2. Like Luke, Gemma also leaved her home as a result of family relationship breakdown.
3. Gemma was given away to the foster family when she was a kid.
4. In the age of 11, she was sent to a children’s home.
5. However, Gemma found out that the children how was associated with child trafficking
and prostitution
6. Eventually, Gemma was compelled to be prostitute.
7. Emma got pregnant at 18 and went back to stay with her mother.
8. Eventually she left her daughter to her mother’s place and started rough sleeping.
9. He lived in a squat in London and was occupied by a good number of rough sleepers
some of whom used to conduct substance abuse and violent activities.
10. Gemma while rough sleeping also evidenced murder.
11. Gemma also stayed in a hostel that offered charity.
12. However, there she experienced sexual abuse and ended up lying on the street once again
13. Eventually he ended up leaving in a charity home which is a safer place for her.
14. Like Luke, Gemma also thinks that rough sleeping has imposed negative impact on her
physical and mental health.

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15. She has become lean and is suffering from a good number of diseases which actually
needs physician’s attention.
16. Lack of physical support and addresses is making it difficult for her to obtain proper help
from the physicians.
Discussion
Chief factors contributing to Youths rough sleeping
From the information obtained from both Luke and Gemma, it can be clearly understood that
family breakdown and family violence are the chief factors that lead to homelessness in youths.
According to Bradshaw, (2016), a good number of youths who are rough sleeping n the streets of
London have found to be left home after years of mental physical and sexual abuse, strain in
relationship, substance abuse by family members as well as parental neglect. Family conditions
which are disruptive thus can be considered as the chief reason that compel young people to
leave home.
Another reason behind youth homelessness is families suffering from financial crisis resulting
from crisis of affordable home, low opportunities in employment, lack of medical insurance,
insufficient wages as well as inadequate welfare benefits. These youths are found to be becoming
homes with their families, however eventually gets separated from them (Watson 2017).
Instability in residents also results in young rough sleepers. A history of foster care correlates
with becoming homeless at an earlier age and remaining homeless for a longer period of time As
being stated by Gemma, she was taken from foster care to a children are home where she was
forced into prostitution (Steen and MacKenzie 2017).

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According to the social science theory, decline of the social sector housing as a proportion of all
housing in UK can be pointed out as one of the chief reason behind increasing homeless in the
nation. Due to lack of capability, ability as well as financial resource, it is mostly difficult for
youths to pay for rented housing. Majority of the youths are found to face difficulties to access
private rented accommodation that in turn makes it more difficult for them escape from
homelessness. As per the social control theory that is associated with homelessness and rough
sleeping, it is highly crucial for any nation for enhancing their fund for providing affordable
accommodation along with effective heath care treatment to the rough sleepers. Luke stated
that,” The council puts spikes on the benches and that so you can’t stretch out …. They play
music at night so you can’t sleep.” It can be said that just implementing steps in order to avoid
rough sleepers in a specific borough do not possess the potential to address the issue instead, it is
highly crucial for both the local as well as federal government (Bramley and Fitzpatrick 2018).
Another reason of homelessness includes young individual who leave juvenile detention center
or are out of home care facilities remains at high risk of becoming homelessness. Additionally
the change conducted in the house benefit eligibility also enhanced the number of youth street
sleepers. According to the mentioned policy, it is crucial or an individual to be at least 16 years
old in order to be eligible to get financial support. In case, the youth has been under care thy
have to be at least 18 years old to get pension credit (Clarke2016).
Impact of youth’s rough sleeping
Rough sleeping impose several negative impacts on both the psychological as well as physical
health. From the interview it has been seen that both Gemma as well as Luke has faced issues in
their physical health after prolonged rough sleeping. Luke stated that “My mum always made me
eat lots of fruit when I was a kid ….. I can’t remember the last time I ate an apple ….. Some of

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the older guys though …. They’re really sick …. Coughing and puking all over the place ….
some of them are totally out of it as well.” Gemma stated that “ my face looks pinched and thin.
I know my health has suffered being on the streets …. And if you’re ill, you can’t go to the
doctor cos there’s no address.”
One of the chief reasons behind deterioration of health of the youth rough sleepers includes lack
of nutrients, proper diet as well as prolonged consumption of unhealthy ad unhygienic food
items. Luke during interview stated that he and his friends used to gather food from dumping
areas or ask for leftover foods at restaurant. Not only that, since limited support is obtained from
the side of the government, be it financial or physical, youths who are rough sleepers are unable
to consume nutritious food items.
Lack of opportunities to seek a doctor whenever needed can be pointed out as another reason
behind deterioration of physical heath amongst youth. As being stated by Gemma, “And if
you’re ill, you can’t go to the doctor cos there’s no address. Doctors won’t let you just turn up
… you have to register but you can’t register if you don’t have an address.” Therefore it can be
understood that rough sleeping youths are unable to obtain heath from general physician due to
lack of appropriate address. Although they possess the potential to visit A&E, discrimination to
provide proper care, lack of resources are the major reasons that hinders their way of getting
appropriate treatment.
According to researchers, more than 72 percent of rough sleeping youths in UK are found to be
conducting substance abuse (Roche, Barkerand Turton 2017). The chief reason behind this is
lack of awareness of the consequences. Not only this, a good number of youths considers
substance abuse as a method of coping with their depression and anxiety issues. Luke stated that
he used to conduct substance abuse in order to deal with the issue of starvation. Not only this,

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lack of education and a normal lifestyle can also be blamed for such enhancement of substance
abuse.
When it comes to mental healthcare issues more than 82 percent of the total number of youth
rough sleepers are found to be suffering from mental illness, chiefly, from depression, anxiety
and schizophrenia as a result of substance abuse.
Recommendation to deal with the issue of rough sleeping
The first step that needs to be taken by both the local as well as federal government is to
create new and effective policies as well as modify the existing polices to reduce rough sleeping
of the youths. For instance, as per the Vagrancy Act 1824, it is illegal to beg or rough sleep in
UK. Policies like providing financial support to youths bellow 16 years should be implemented
in order to reduce rough sleeping (Watson 2017). Not only this, more care homes needs to be
established and effective monitoring of the management of the care homes on periodic basis
needs to be done in order to ensure reduction in rough sleeping. The total amount of funding’s
needs to be enhanced in order to reduce rough sleeping.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that rough sleeping is actually imposing
highly negative impact on the youths of UK. While a good number of reasons and its
consequences has been discussed above, it is high time for both the local and federal government
to implement effective strategies to prevent rough sleeping.

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References
Bradshaw, J. ed., 2016. The Well-being of Children in the UK. Policy Press.
Bramley, G. and Fitzpatrick, S., 2018. Homelessness in the UK: who is most at risk?. Housing
Studies, 33(1), pp.96-116.
Clarke, A., 2016. The prevalence of rough sleeping and sofa surfing amongst young people in
the UK. Social Inclusion, 4(4), pp.60-72.
McCann, E. and Brown, M., 2019. Homelessness among youth who identify as LGBTQ+: A
systematic review. Journal of clinical nursing, 28(11-12), pp.2061-2072.
Roche, S., Barker, J. and Turton, P., 2017. Understanding family conflict as it relates to young
people experiencing homelessness. Parity, 30(10), p.28.
Steen, A. and MacKenzie, D., 2017. The sustainability of the Youth Foyer Model: a comparison
of the UK and Australia. Social Policy and Society, 16(3), pp.391-404.
Watson, J., 2017. Youth Homelessness and Survival sex: Intimate relationships and gendered
subjectivities. Routledge.