The initiation of homeless youth into the street economy

• Published in: Journal of adolescence (London, England.) Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 357 - 377
• Main Authors: Gwadz, Marya Viorst, Gostnell, Karla, Smolenski, Carol, Willis, Brian, Nish, David, Nolan, Theresa C, Tharaken, Maya, Ritchie, Amanda S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2009; Elsevier; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Affect; Attachment Behavior; Behavior modification; Biological and medical sciences; Community organizations; Drug trafficking; Economic Factors; Economic Problems; Educational Status; Female; Financial Support; Formal economy; Health Problems; Homeless People; Homeless Persons - psychology; Homeless Persons - statistics & numerical data; Homeless youth; Homelessness; Humans; Imprisonment; Intervention; Interviews; Low Achievement; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Health; Mixed methods; Pediatrics; Poverty; Prostitution; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Qualitative Research; Recruitment; Sex Work - statistics & numerical data; Social behavior disorders. Criminal behavior. Delinquency; Social Control; Socioeconomic Factors; Sociology; Stereotyping; Stigma; Street Drugs - economics; Street economy; Substance-Related Disorders - economics; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Teenagers; Unemployment; Young Adult; Youth; Formal economy; Street economy; Mixed methods; Homeless youth; Human; Illicit drug; Sex; Commerce; Illicit traffic; Prostitution; Homeless; Adolescent; Young adult; Initiation; Age
• ISSN: 0140-1971; 1095-9254
• DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2008.01.004

Abstract Homeless youth (HY) who lack employment in the formal economy typically turn to the street economy (e.g., prostitution, drug selling) for survival. Guided by the theory of social control, the present paper explores factors influencing HY's initiation into the street economy. Eighty HY (ages 15–23) were recruited from four community-based organizations. All participated in structured interviews and 25% participated in qualitative interviews. Almost all HY had participated in the street (81%) and formal economies (69%). Five main factors simultaneously influenced initiation into the street economy: social control/bonds, barriers to the formal economy (e.g., homelessness, educational deficits, mental health problems, incarceration, stigma), tangible and social/emotional benefits of the street economy, severe economic need, and the active recruitment of HY into the street economy by others. Qualitative and quantitative data sources were congruent. Intervention efforts are needed at multiple levels of influence to promote HY's success in the formal economy.