Fragmented, often abusive early settings characterised by poor relationships with one or both parents characterised participants sense of their place in the world. The family home was frequently associated with experiences of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. With the disruption of formative networks and bonds with caregivers, this culminated for many within institutional care or the care of relatives. Reported experiences of care were mixed, with many women describing “getting in with the wrong crowd” and taking drugs for the first time but also feelings of relief during a respite from abuse at home:
Me mam was a severe alcoholic. I used to get beat up daily. The school didn’t do anything until I was 12-year old, after me nanna died. And basically, I got put with the person who was actually raping me. So I was there for 3 months and the trauma of that, I just couldn’t cope with. So I rebelled at school, and that’s when I got put into […] children’s home. Things started to calm down a little bit there, but I just wanted to be – it sounds stupid – but I wanted to be where my safety net was, where my mam was (Rosie).
Women described the home environment being one where substance misuse and interpersonal conflict were normalized. Trauma was widely experienced, with multiple adverse experiences throughout the life course. Leaving home often occurred as a result of crisis, either the death of a main caregiver or family breakdown. Women described getting into relationships with older men, which provided both a means of escape and in many cases a trap. For Michelle, a relationship initially provided a refuge from her homelife and though the relationship quickly turned sour her mother did not allow her to return home: “
I moved out when I was 15 year old I rang me mam crying cos I was miles away from [home …] and she went “you’ve made your bed you lie in it” (Michelle).
Early experiences of abusive family life set future expectations of relationships, where physical violence was normalized and associated with love. Tracy described how unremarkable experiences of violence were, which foreshadowed later relationships:
I was beaten as a child by my father. My mother beat my sister. Never ever hit me. Sides get picked, you get her I get her. And I thought it was how someone showed that they loved you, you know? … I had my nose broken. First my dad. And then boyfriends. There was a competition going on. It becomes a way of life I guess (Tracy).
Early experiences of lack of informal support of parents and extended family; resources that are normative and critical to healthy child development and achievement even into early adulthood [64 (
link)] impact these women throughout their lives. Experiencing early trauma, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, neglect, parental mental ill-health and/or substance abuse, are all particular risk factors associated with unresolved trauma and long-term homelessness in adulthood [65 (
link)].
