Homelessness, Resources, and Crime
Location
Sydnor Performance Hall
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Start Date
4-17-2024 8:30 AM
End Date
4-17-2024 8:45 AM
College
Lynchburg College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Criminology
Keywords
larceny, homelessness, crime
Abstract
This research was inspired by observations of homelessness. Being a student of criminology, I began to wonder how this population was related to crime. As an intern at a Domestic Violence/Homeless shelter, I also wondered how the resources available may affect this. In this project, I observed known facts and collected data regarding crime rates of larceny and homeless numbers and available shelters. The data proved an existing correlation. It showed that, in instances of larceny, more resources usually showed less crime, as many homeless individuals likely commit crimes out of necessity. Homelessness is defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in four categories: people who are living in a place not meant for human habitation, in emergency shelter, in transitional housing, or exiting an institution they previously resided in; people who are losing their primary nighttime residence, which can include a hotel or a motel, and lack resources to remain in housing; families with children or unaccompanied youth who are unstably housed and are likely to remain in that state; and people who are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, have no other residence, and lack resources and support to obtain other permanent housing (Changes, 2012). Larceny was selected for this as it is a less serious crime, one more likely to be of necessity. Emergency shelters, transitional housing, and domestic violence shelters are included in the term shelters. My hope with this research is that perhaps it can encourage the institution of more resources as well as help people understand that homeless people are usually not bad people.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Joseph Hoft
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Homelessness, Resources, and Crime
Sydnor Performance Hall
This research was inspired by observations of homelessness. Being a student of criminology, I began to wonder how this population was related to crime. As an intern at a Domestic Violence/Homeless shelter, I also wondered how the resources available may affect this. In this project, I observed known facts and collected data regarding crime rates of larceny and homeless numbers and available shelters. The data proved an existing correlation. It showed that, in instances of larceny, more resources usually showed less crime, as many homeless individuals likely commit crimes out of necessity. Homelessness is defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in four categories: people who are living in a place not meant for human habitation, in emergency shelter, in transitional housing, or exiting an institution they previously resided in; people who are losing their primary nighttime residence, which can include a hotel or a motel, and lack resources to remain in housing; families with children or unaccompanied youth who are unstably housed and are likely to remain in that state; and people who are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, have no other residence, and lack resources and support to obtain other permanent housing (Changes, 2012). Larceny was selected for this as it is a less serious crime, one more likely to be of necessity. Emergency shelters, transitional housing, and domestic violence shelters are included in the term shelters. My hope with this research is that perhaps it can encourage the institution of more resources as well as help people understand that homeless people are usually not bad people.