Abstract: Firearm Carriage Among Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness: An Exploration of Personal and Social Network Correlates (Society for Social Work and Research 30th Annual Conference Anniversary)

Schedule:

Saturday, January 17, 2026

Independence BR A, ML 4 (Marriott Marquis Washington DC)

* noted as presenting author

Hsun-Ta Hsu, PhD, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Anthony Fulginiti, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Denver, Denver, CO

Annah Bender, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Missouri-St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO

Eric Rice, PhD, Professor, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Sarah Kirk, MA, Doctoral Candidate, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

Emelyne Lane, MA, Doctoral Student, University of Missouri-Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO

Hana Lopes, MSW, Doctoral Student, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC

Olga Koumoundouros, MFA, PhD Student, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Background/Purpose:

Firearm carriage among young adults is associated with heightened risks of firearm violence victimization, self-harm, and suicide. Over one-third of young adults experiencing homelessness (YAEH) surveyed across seven U.S. cities reported having “easy access” to firearms, exacerbating their risk of firearm violence. Current firearm safety interventions, which typically emphasize safe storage, may not be applicable to YAEH. The extent and correlates of firearm carriage among YAEH remain understudied. Guided by social norms theory, this study explores personal characteristics and social network properties associated with firearm carriage among YAEH to inform future firearm violence risk reduction interventions.

Methods:

A convenience sample of 589 YAEH aged 18 to 25 was recruited from drop-in centers in Los Angeles, CA, and St. Louis, MO. Participants completed a face-to-face, researcher-administered, computer-assisted anonymous survey comprising two parts: the personal survey and the social network survey. The personal survey assessed individual attributes (e.g., demographics and firearm attitudes). In the network survey, participants nominated up to 20 individuals they had interacted with in the past 12 months. For each network member (alter), participants reported their perceived alter attitudes and behaviors. Information regarding the interactions between YAEH and each alter was also collected. Only respondents who completed both surveys were included in the analyses (N=561).

The outcome, firearm carriage in the past 12 months, was a dichotomous variable. Personal-level variables included lifetime duration of homelessness, firearm attitudes, gang affiliation, mental health status, and hard drug use. Network-level variables included network size and proportions of alters who carried firearms, would encourage, or discouraged firearm carriage. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine associations between personal attributes, social network properties, and firearm carriage among YAEH.

Results:

Approximately 22% of YAEH reported carrying a firearm in the past 12 months. Over 90% of YAEH were racial minorities (Black, Latinx, Multi-Racial, or other). Sexual and gender minority YAEH comprised 44% of the participants. Regarding firearm attitudes, over 60% of YAEH expressed that owning a firearm would help them protect their belongings, feel safe, and successfully defend themselves.

Based on the final multivariate model, positive attitudes toward firearms (OR=1.3; 95% CI=1.1-1.4) and gang affiliation (OR=3.3; 95% CI=1.4-7.8) were associated with increased odds of firearm carriage. Being embedded in networks where firearm carriage was more common (OR=5.6; 95% CI=1.3-24.8) or where more members encouraged firearm carriage (OR=2.6; 95% CI=1.2-5.8) was positively associated with firearm carriage. Conversely, being in networks where members discouraged carriage was protective (OR=0.5; 95% CI=0.2-0.8).

Conclusions/Implications:

Firearm carriage was prevalent among YAEH. Given their living conditions, YAEH may resort to firearms for self-protection, increasing risks of further violence involvement or self-harm. Connecting YAEH with stable housing may reduce their perceived need to carry firearms, as housing provides a physical safe harbor, enhances their sense of security, and serves as a venue for trauma-informed care. Interventions highlighting the serious consequences of firearm carriage and providing practical safety alternatives may help reshape YAEH’s firearm attitudes and reduce carriage. Finally, network-based interventions fostering norms that discourage firearm carriage may also protect YAEH.