Safety and Vulnerability

One of the most profound and often overlooked aspects of homelessness is the constant state of vulnerability that comes with living without secure shelter. The absence of a door that locks—a basic feature most housed people take for granted—creates a persistent state of exposure to various threats and dangers. This vulnerability shapes daily decisions, behaviors, and experiences of people experiencing homelessness in profound ways.

The Reality: Victims, Not Perpetrators

Despite common misconceptions, research consistently shows that people experiencing homelessness are far more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators:

• People experiencing homelessness are 9-15 times more likely to be victims of violent crime compared to the general population
• Nearly half of all homeless individuals report being victims of violence during their experience of homelessness
• For women experiencing homelessness, rates of violent victimization are even higher, with studies finding that 30-50% experience physical or sexual violence

Types of Victimization

People experiencing homelessness face various forms of victimization:

Violent Crime

• Physical assault: Attacks ranging from harassment to severe beatings
• Sexual violence: Sexual assault and rape, particularly targeting women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and youth
• Robbery: Theft involving force or threats
• Hate crimes: Targeted violence based on homeless status

Property Crime

• Theft of belongings: Loss of essential items like identification documents, medications, and personal possessions
• Destruction of property: Deliberate damage to tents, sleeping bags, or other survival gear
• Theft during hospitalization or incarceration: Loss of possessions when temporarily away from camp

Exploitation

• Labor exploitation: Underpaid or unpaid work, often with promises of housing or other support that doesn't materialize
• Financial exploitation: Theft of benefits, identity theft, or coerced financial arrangements
• Sexual exploitation: Coerced sex in exchange for shelter, protection, or other basic needs
• Drug-related exploitation: Being used as drug carriers or dealers by others

Harassment and Intimidation

• Verbal abuse: Dehumanizing language, threats, and intimidation
• Deliberate sleep disruption: Being awakened repeatedly by passersby or authorities
• Filming without consent: Being recorded for social media or other purposes without permission
• Intimidation tactics: Actions designed to force movement from an area

Perpetrators of Violence

Violence against people experiencing homelessness comes from multiple sources:

Stranger Violence

• Opportunistic attacks: Targeting homeless individuals due to perceived vulnerability
• Hate-motivated violence: Attacks specifically targeting people because they are homeless
• "Thrill" attacks: Violence committed for entertainment, often by groups of young people
• Territorial conflicts: Violence from business owners or residents attempting to remove homeless individuals from an area

Violence Within Homeless Communities

• Conflicts over resources: Disputes over territory, possessions, or access to services
• Untreated mental health issues: Conflicts arising from untreated conditions
• Substance-related conflicts: Violence related to substance use or drug markets

Institutional Violence

• Excessive force: Disproportionate use of force during law enforcement interactions
• Property destruction: Destruction of belongings during encampment sweeps
• Denial of services: Refusal to provide assistance or protection

Factors Contributing to Vulnerability

Several factors increase the vulnerability of people experiencing homelessness:

Visibility and Exposure

• Lack of private, secure space
• Necessity of existing in public spaces
• Inability to secure belongings
• Predictable locations and routines that make targeting easier

Barriers to Protection

• Limited police response: Reports from homeless individuals often not taken seriously
• Fear of reporting: Concerns about retaliation or being criminalized themselves
• Lack of legal standing: Limited legal protections for people in public spaces
• Credibility challenges: Statements from homeless individuals often questioned or dismissed

Health and Capacity Factors

• Physical disabilities that limit ability to defend oneself or flee
• Mental health conditions that may affect risk assessment or self-protection
• Sleep deprivation affecting alertness and decision-making
• Substance use that may increase vulnerability during intoxication

Social Isolation

• Disconnection from protective social networks
• Reduced community monitoring and intervention
• Limited witnesses to deter potential attackers

Protective Strategies

People experiencing homelessness develop various strategies to increase safety:

Community Formation

• Group sleeping arrangements: Camping together for mutual protection
• Lookout systems: Taking turns watching over belongings or sleeping areas
• Information sharing: Warning others about dangerous areas or individuals
• Resource pooling: Sharing food, supplies, or protection

Environmental Strategies

• Strategic location selection: Choosing areas with better visibility, lighting, or proximity to services
• Creating barriers: Using physical objects to create perimeters around sleeping areas
• Hiding techniques: Concealing sleeping locations or belongings
• Maintaining cleanliness: Keeping areas tidy to reduce negative attention

Behavioral Adaptations

• Hypervigilance: Maintaining constant awareness of surroundings
• Sleep scheduling: Sleeping during daylight hours when risks may be lower
• Avoidance strategies: Steering clear of known dangerous areas or individuals
• Relationship building: Developing connections with local businesses or residents

Protective Items

• Carrying defensive items (pepper spray, knives, etc.)
• Using locks or containers for important belongings
• Keeping dogs or other animals for protection and companionship
• Carrying minimal valuables to reduce targeting

Specific Vulnerabilities

Certain groups face heightened or specific safety concerns:

Women

• Significantly higher rates of sexual violence
• Targeted exploitation by those offering shelter
• Unique hygiene and health vulnerabilities
• Often forced to choose between mixed-gender shelters (with potential safety concerns) or remaining unsheltered

LGBTQ+ Individuals

• Targeted harassment and hate-motivated violence
• Discrimination in shelter access
• Higher rates of sexual violence
• Specific risks for transgender individuals in gender-segregated facilities

Youth

• Targeted for exploitation, particularly sex trafficking
• Vulnerability to older individuals offering "protection"
• Limited legal rights and resources
• Developmental factors affecting risk assessment

Elderly and Disabled Individuals

• Limited mobility affecting ability to flee danger
• Targeted for financial exploitation
• Higher risk of injury from attacks
• Medication theft

The Psychological Impact of Constant Vulnerability

Living in a constant state of vulnerability creates significant psychological effects:

Trauma Responses

• Hypervigilance: Constant state of alertness that prevents rest and recovery
• Trauma triggers: Environmental cues that activate stress responses
• Numbing: Emotional detachment as a protective mechanism
• Flashbacks and nightmares: Re-experiencing traumatic events

Chronic Stress Effects

• Elevated stress hormones affecting physical health
• Sleep disruption from safety concerns
• Cognitive impacts affecting decision-making
• Increased risk of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions

Relational Impacts

• Trust issues from repeated victimization
• Difficulty forming supportive relationships
• Isolation as a protective strategy
• Challenges engaging with service providers

These psychological impacts can create barriers to exiting homelessness and may persist even after housing is secured.

Barriers to Reporting and Seeking Help

Despite high rates of victimization, many incidents go unreported due to various barriers:

System Distrust

• Previous negative experiences with law enforcement
• Reports not being taken seriously or investigated
• Fear of being criminalized when reporting
• Perception that nothing will change

Practical Barriers

• Lack of transportation to police stations
• No phone to call for help
• Inability to participate in follow-up investigations
• No safe place to recover after victimization

Fear of Consequences

• Retaliation from perpetrators
• Exposure of location to authorities
• Discovery of outstanding warrants or other legal issues
• Loss of community support if reporting involves other homeless individuals

Effective Support Approaches

Several approaches can help address safety concerns for people experiencing homelessness:

Housing-Focused Solutions

• Housing First programs: Providing immediate access to housing without preconditions
• Low-barrier shelter options: Accessible emergency shelter with minimal restrictions
• Domestic violence shelter access: Ensuring homeless survivors can access DV services
• Safe haven programs: Specialized shelter for vulnerable populations

Community-Based Safety Initiatives

• Peer outreach and support: Engaging people with lived experience in safety planning
• Community monitoring: Non-police safety presence in areas where homeless people congregate
• Safe reporting mechanisms: Alternative ways to report victimization without fear
• Trauma-informed service design: Creating spaces and services that enhance safety

System Improvements

• Specialized law enforcement training: Improving response to crimes against homeless individuals
• Hate crime legislation: Including homeless status in protected categories
• Victim services access: Ensuring homeless victims can access compensation and support
• Cross-system coordination: Better integration between homeless services and victim services

Prevention Approaches

• Public education: Challenging dehumanizing narratives about homelessness
• Youth programs: Preventing hate-motivated violence through education
• Environmental design: Creating safer public spaces for vulnerable populations
• Early intervention: Addressing factors that lead to violence within homeless communities

Conclusion

Safety and vulnerability represent fundamental aspects of the daily reality of homelessness. The absence of secure shelter creates a persistent state of exposure to various threats and dangers that shapes every aspect of life without housing.

Understanding the true dynamics of vulnerability—that people experiencing homelessness are far more likely to be victims than perpetrators of crime—is essential for developing appropriate responses. This understanding challenges common misconceptions and highlights the need for protection rather than criminalization.

Addressing safety concerns requires both immediate interventions to protect people currently experiencing homelessness and longer-term solutions that provide the fundamental security that comes with stable housing. By recognizing and responding to the reality of vulnerability, communities can create more effective approaches that enhance safety while working toward ending homelessness.

References & Further Reading

1. National Coalition for the Homeless. "Hate Crimes Against the Homeless: Violence Hidden in Plain View." NCH, 2014. https://nationalhomeless.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Hate-Crimes-2013-FINAL.pdf
2. Meinbresse, M. et al. "Exploring the Experiences of Violence Among Individuals Who Are Homeless Using a Consumer-Led Approach." Violence and Victims, vol. 29, no. 1, 2014, pp. 122-136. https://doi.org/10.1891/0886-6708.VV-D-12-00069
3. Jasinski, J.L. et al. "The Experience of Violence in the Lives of Homeless Women: A Research Report." National Institute of Justice, 2005. https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/211976.pdf
4. Kushel, M.B. et al. "No Door to Lock: Victimization Among Homeless and Marginally Housed Persons." Archives of Internal Medicine, vol. 163, no. 20, 2003, pp. 2492-2499. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.163.20.2492
5. National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. "Housing Not Handcuffs: Ending the Criminalization of Homelessness in U.S. Cities." NLCHP, 2019. https://homelesslaw.org/housing-not-handcuffs/
6. Goodman, L.A., Fels, K., and Glenn, C. "No Safe Place: Sexual Assault in the Lives of Homeless Women." National Online Resource Center on Violence Against Women, 2006. https://vawnet.org/material/no-safe-place-sexual-assault-lives-homeless-women
7. Kipke, M.D. et al. "Homeless Youth and Their Exposure to and Involvement in Violence While Living on the Streets." Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 20, no. 5, 1997, pp. 360-367. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1054-139X(97)00037-2
8. Hopper, E.K., Bassuk, E.L., and Olivet, J. "Shelter from the Storm: Trauma-Informed Care in Homelessness Services Settings." The Open Health Services and Policy Journal, vol. 3, 2010, pp. 80-100. https://doi.org/10.2174/1874924001003020080