Navigating life on the street: exploring crime, victimization, and support among the homeless and street-involved youth in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Abstract

This qualitative study examines the lived experiences of homeless and street-involved youth in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, with a focus on their exposure to crime, experiences of victimisation, and the availability or absence of support networks. Although international literature on youth homelessness is extensive, research in the South African context remains limited, particularly studies centred on the voices of homeless youth and their everyday interactions with crime, safety, and support systems. Existing local research tends to focus on prevalence, service delivery, or broad social challenges, leaving a gap in understanding how homeless youth in Durban navigate risk, victimisation, and survival within their specific urban environment. This study addresses this gap by foregrounding the lived experiences and perspectives of young people residing in Albert Park and the Payless Shelter. Data were collected through in-depth, one-on-one interviews with 20 young people aged 18–27 residing in Albert Park and the Payless Shelter. The study is grounded in routine activities theory (RAT) and general strain theory (GST). While RAT illuminates the environmental and situational conditions that enable criminal activity, GST provides insight into the emotional and psychological pressures that may push youth toward offending. The findings reveal that family neglect, abuse and violence, poverty and unemployment, peer influence, and substance use contribute significantly to youth homelessness. Participants described diverse forms of victimisation, including physical violence, harassment, sexual exploitation, and emotional and psychological harm. Many reported occupying dual roles as both victims and perpetrators of crime. Their daily survival involves navigating a precarious balance between vulnerability and self-protection, often relying on non-governmental organisations and informal peer networks for basic, emotional, and material support. Formal services including shelters, social workers, and law enforcement, were frequently perceived as inaccessible, judgmental, or threatening. The study highlights an urgent need for family-strengthening initiatives, youth employment programmes, enhanced safety measures in both street and shelter environments, improved access to necessities, and expanded mental-health and psychosocial support. It also emphasises the importance of youth-centred policies and community-based support systems that acknowledge the agency of street-involved youth while addressing the structural drivers of their street involvement. By foregrounding youth perspectives, this research contributes to the existing body of knowledge on homelessness and street-involved youth in South Africa, offering a nuanced understanding of resilience and risk within Durban’s urban context, and proposing recommendations for more equitable and effective social interventions.