LC533 Sociology Report: Thematic Analysis of Youth Homelessness

This sociology report presents a thematic analysis of qualitative data from interviews with two young people, Gemma and Luke, who have experienced rough sleeping in London. The report investigates the complex factors contributing to youth homelessness, including family relationship breakdowns, domestic abuse, lack of affordable housing, and the physical and psychological impacts of rough sleeping. It also examines the role of addiction, crime, and the limitations of current social control methods. The findings highlight the urgent need for increased government funding, affordable housing, and comprehensive support services to address the issue and improve the lives of vulnerable young people. The report also discusses relevant social science theory and policy implications, drawing conclusions based on the data analysis and providing recommendations for intervention.

Running head: SOCIOLOGY
Sociology
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Introduction
Housing crisis in London is resulting in a huge amount of people suffering from sleeping
on footpaths. Approximately, 8100 individuals are seen to be rough sleeping in 2018-19, the
number being slightly higher than the previous year (Harding 2020). Amongst the mentioned
number of people, more than 15 percent of rough sleepers are found to be youths who are under
25 years old (Clarke 2016). Along with this, the recent change in the housing benefit eligibility
for individuals under 21 years old has also enhanced the number of homeless youths across
England. In this report, interviews of 2 young people, Gemma and Luke, who are suffering from
rough sleeping, will be interpreted. 4 themes emerging from the responses of the interviews have
been discussed. Finally, conclusion has been drawn on the basis of the data analysis.
Results
Family relationship breakdown and domestic abuse:
When it comes to homelessness and rough sleeping of the youths in UK, one of the chief reasons
that can be pointed out is lack of effective relationship with the parents resulting in family
relationship breakdown. It has been found that conflict and relationship breakdown are highly
common amongst families with lower income. Withdrawal of financial support often results in
families breaking up along with young people becoming homeless. Extra marital affairs of
parents and conflict with partners of either of the parents in case of a second marriage can be
pointed out as major factors that contribute to family relationship breakdown.
Colin got stricter with me, always telling me what to do. Telling me off if I made any noise or
left my stuff lying around. Felt like it wasn’t my home anymore.

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I was always under their feet ... like in the way. So they said I would have to go to the council
and get somewhere to rent by myself. **** knows how they thought I was going to do that! No
job, no money and a criminal record! (Luke,22)
Another chief reason behind homelessness includes physical or emotional abuse due to family
conflict. Both Gemma and Luke are found to be mentally abused by the partners of their
mothers, which in turn resulted in running away from home. According to researchers, majority
of the homeless youths cones from homes that are characterized by high sexual, emotional or
physical abuse as well as neglect compare to youth with homes (Mason 2015). It has been
estimated that youths living on the streets are five times more likely to be victimized of sexual
abuse that increase the likely hood of negative development of outcome including lower self
esteem, depression , suicide attempt and others.
He used to hit her and the police were called. They found drugs in the flat and I was taken into
care …. to cut a long story short! I was about four at the time … the first time I went into care
….. I can’t remember it. Then my dad went away …. I think to Ireland …. and my mum sorted
herself out a bit and I was allowed to come home. Things were OK for a few years but then my
dad came back on the scene and the whole thing started up again ….(Gemma, 24)
Lack of charity homes, corruption and expensive rent
Considering the fact that UK is suffering from house crisis, the cost of renting a house in London
to high to be rented by youths, majority of whom possess no jobs. As per the study, the number
of accommodations for homeless people is not enough to accommodate the increasing number of
homes less people in the nation. Along with this lack of social support and corruptions in

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accommodation provided by the government resulting in increased risk of explosion, abuse as
well as trafficking.
Well I know now don’t I! Trafficking … they were taken away to be prostitutes. It was really
scary…. Made it hard to make friends or trust anyone….. you are watching a movie and eating
popcorn one night …. Having a laugh …. then the next night they are gone …… I was always
scared that someone would come and take me away. (Gemma, 24)
This issue could have been reduced in case abandoned teens could afford rentedhouse in London.
However, the high cost of housing makes it difficult for them to do the same.
Physical impact of rough sleeping on youths
Considering the fact almost majority of the youths are found to be gathering food items from
dumpster or consuming leftovers from restaurant, lack of nutrients in their daily diet imposes
negative impact on their health. Not only this lack of social activities like providing resources to
the homes along with support from the local an state government makes it difficult for young
teens to obtain appropriate nutrition required to maintain an effective diet. Both Luke and
Gemma admitted that rough sleeping for a prolonged amount of time have imposed negative
impact on their health.
Psychological impact of rough sleeping on youth
Another major impact of rough sleeping on youth includes metal heath problems. according to
Bretherton and Pleace (2018), unaccompanied young people in general faces debilitating effects
of psychological heath issues that gets worse die to homelessness according to a survey, more
than 39.7 percent of the youths suffering from homelessness in UK faces psychological issues

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like depression and anxiety due to huge amount of stress faced by them. This in turn results in
developing self harming behaviour like cutting, burning or even suicide in some cases. A good
number of rough sleeping youths turning to substance abuse in order to deal with stress as well
as depression resulted by unstable living arrangement.
I smoke as much as I can though and I don’t eat properly. 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 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 … (Luke, 22)
sometimes I see my reflection and I think I look really hard … you know, 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. Doctors won’t let you just turn up … you have to register but
you can’t register if you don’t have an address ….(Gemma,24)
Rough sleeping, addiction and crime rate
Criminal activates, victimization and unsafe sexual practices can be considered as some of the
factors that are adversely affecting the rough sleeping youths of London. Gemma in her
interview has stated that she has even eye witnessed murder while rough sleeping in a abandoned
flat. Luke himself had conducted criminal activity of burning a car. A good number of rough
sleeping youths also opt for criminal activities like shoplifting as a strategy of survival. Luke
stated that he used to conduct shoplifting for feeding him as well as whenever he is ill. Gemma
stated her experience of being sexually abused by rough sleepers. According to a good number of
studies it has been found that a good number of unaccompanied your gets turned into prostitutes

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for survival. The phenomenon is named as survival sex, where sex is exchanged for money,
shelter, food as well as necessities.
Yea he was screaming and running around ….. starting fighting with some of the other guys.
Then he got stabbed … blood everywhere …. then the police came and threw us all out.
Building was boarded up after that so we couldn’t get back in. (Gemma)
Discussion
From the above findings it can be pointed out that lack of awareness amongst low income
families as well as lack of effective policies that can provide low cost or free shelter to the youths
in UK, is enhancing the number of youth rough sleepers in UK. Legislators are tackling the issue
of homelessness in a good number of ways, including adopting state definitions of youth
homelessness, addressing the disparate outcomes for vulnerable populations and protecting the
federally guaranteed educational rights of homeless youth. The Chaffee Foster Care
Independence Program is one of the mention worthy policies that provide the state with funding
for supporting youths between the age range of 18 to 21 years old (Harleigh-Bell 2016).
However, the withdrawal of housing costs for 18 to 21 years old in UK, is found to have imposed
negative impact on the current condition of youth homelessness. Bramley and Fitzpatrick (2018)
have pointed out the lack of affordability of rent in UK and London is a major reason behind the
issue of rough sleeping (Harding 2019). The price of renting a specific house, is getting highly
expensive in the nation and costs at least 7 to 8th time of an average salary of an individual. Thus
it can be clearly understand that this expanse cannot be bore by youths specially when they are
unemployed. Social control refers to the organized methods in which society deploys a good
number of modes of power in response to a specific social issue like homelessness. According to

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the social control theory associated with homelessness it is highly crucial for the nation to
enhance their funding in order to provide affordable accommodation and health treatment to
people (White et al. 2018). However, acts like covering public resting places with needles as well
as playing loud music on street in order to eradicate homelessness can be considered as
ineffective ways to deal with this issue.
The most obvious solution to reduce rough sleeping of the youths includes enhancing the
funding of the government to help abandoned youth to deal with homelessness. Local authorities
need to take a range of no statutory as well as informal homelessness approach for prevention of
homelessness and relief activities (Ungpakorn and Rae 2020). This may include offering debt
device as well as financial assistance, conciliation services, and family mediation. Along with
this, the local government needs to establish sanctuary scheme for youths suffering from
domestic violence. Also, abandoned or youths suffering from domestic violence should be
provided with alternative accommodation. It is highly crucial for noting that the Homelessness
Prevention Grant funding this activity has been relatively protected from the substantial cuts
which are made to the broader DCLG budgets, along with 18.5 million pounds made available
for supporting sub-regional partnerships for tackling single homelessness (Noblet 2014). A good
number of NGOs are found to be providing teaching skills class so that the youths can develop
professional skills to deal with the financial crisis associated with homelessness. In the interview
both Gemma and Luke stated that they have faced issues with the accommodation arranged by
the council. While in Luke’s case it was mental harassment and torture, for Gemma’s case it was
sexual abuse and the fear of trafficking. Thus it is highly crucial for the government to raise
effective training sessions for the employees working in the care home for youths (Howe and
Easterbrook 2018).

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Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be clearly understood that rough sleeping is imposing
highly negative impact on both the physical as well as mental health of the young people.
Considering the fact that the progress of a nation depends on the progress of its youths, it can be
said that this social issue will impose highly negative impact on the nation’s progress. Hence it is
high time for the government to take effective steps s that the issue of rough sleeping of youths
can be reduced and eventually eradicated.

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References
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