COH-AWH-What_Would_it_Take

3.4 VIOLENCE IN
THE COMMUNITY
The risk of violence is a part of everyday life for many youth – both at home and in their
communities. Some youth talked about areas in their city where casual physical and sexual
violence was common, gangs recruited poor or homeless youth, and young people were
encouraged or forced to engage in drug use and/or drug dealing. Participants explained that
youth who are homeless are often extremely vulnerable to these forces, particularly when
they are chased out of safer areas by businesses or police officers. Several youth from smaller
communities discussed seeking help from the police when they experienced violence in the
community, but being refused help and not being taken seriously. Not surprisingly, these youth
reported that they had to turn to violence in order to protect themselves.
For several youth, this violence was invited into their
homes, or forced its way in, when they were children.
For others, community violence and crime was common in their building or neighbourhood. Some
schools were also dangerous, fostering gang activity, underage sex work, and drug culture on the
school grounds. Once on the streets, youth’s desperation for a place to sleep and eat made them
vulnerable to people who take advantage of those needs. Young women particularly discussed
how common sexual violence was in their lives, both before and after becoming homeless.
“What would have stopped me from becoming homeless – if my social worker would
have listened to me. And moved me out of a place where some really dangerous, drug
addicted criminals were coming to and getting free access into the building, because
the fucking front foyer wasn’t locking. So, they were coming into my place and coming
in with weapons, and drugs, and threatening me, and basically turning my place into
a fucking crack shack, and trap house and flophouse. I asked my social worker to
move me because I was having a lot of problems and whatnot, and these people were
threatening to kill me, but wouldn’t do it and finally, they just blow up.”
EDMONTON YOUTH
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE? 116