WORRIES ABOUT CRIME - RANK-ORDERING SURVIVAL CONCERNS AMONG URBAN TRANSIENT FEMALES

This exploratory study examined the role that worries about crime occu pies in the lives of New York City's homeless women. Building upon Cos ton's (1988) research finding of self-perceptions of high vulnerabilit y but low levels of fear of crime among homeless females, the present study suggests that homeless women deprioritize worries about crime in lieu of worries about their family's well-being, poor physical health , lack of proper nutrition, and lack of money. Maslow's (1954) needs h ierarchy is applied as an explanation of these findings.