"We're Locking The Door": Family Histories in a Sample of Homeless Youth

Authors

Shahid Alvi, University of Ontario Institute of TechnologyFollow
Hannah Scott, University of Ontario Institute of TechnologyFollow
Wendy Stanyon, University of Ontario Institute of TechnologyFollow

Abstract

It is well known that the pathways to homelessness for young people are embedded in often ongoing negative childhood experiences. Many of these experiences are rooted in multiple and intersecting problems including, but not limited to: family conflict, abuse, addictions, and mental health issues. The authors draw upon qualitative interviews conducted with 15 homeless male and female youth between the ages of 16 and 24 in a suburban area of Southern Ontario, Canada. We describe these young people's perceptions of family experiences and find support for Elliott Currie's (2004) proposition that a broader ethos of individualism and intolerant parenting underpins many youth experiences in contemporary society.

Keywords

Homeless Youth, Family Histories, Intolerant Parenting

Publication Date

9-1-2010

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2010.1338

Recommended APA Citation

Alvi, S., Scott, H., & Stanyon, W. (2010). "We're Locking The Door": Family Histories in a Sample of Homeless Youth. The Qualitative Report, 15(5), 1209-1226. https://doi.org/10.46743/2160-3715/2010.1338