DRUG-USE AND OTHER PROBLEMS OF RESIDENTS IN PROJECTS FOR THE YOUNG, SINGLE HOMELESS

One hundred people who make use of an organization housing the young, single homeless were interviewed using a semi-structured interview. Th ere was a high prevalence of problems, including substance abuse and d ependence, other mental health problems, extensive use of health servi ces and extensive experience of crime both as victim and perpetrator. Most people said they had become homeless because they did not get on with their parents. Since becoming homeless,most had not spent more th an a month sleeping rough, but most had spent time staying with friend s or staying in other hostels for the homeless. It is concluded that m ost young, single homeless people who seek help have problems beyond a lack of permanent shelter. The extent to which the sample is represen tative of all homeless people is considered and implications for servi ce provision are discussed.