Correlates of Firearm Access Among Young Women Experiencing Homelessness: A Seven City Study

Background and Purpose

The gender gap in firearm access has decreased in recent years. Firearm access among young women experiencing homelessness (YWEH) may result in serious adverse outcomes (e.g., firearm-involved self-harm and suicide, firearm victimizations), as conventional safe storage practices are often not applicable under the context of homelessness. YWEH may ensure their firearm access for self-defense purposes, as under unstable housing, they are especially vulnerable to violence and victimization. Literature on firearm access among YWEH remains scarce. Therefore, this study aims to explore correlates of firearm access among this vulnerable population. A better understanding of such a topic will provide critical insight into future intervention development focusing on firearm violence risk reduction among YWEH.

Methods

A subsample of self-identified female YWEH (N=471) from the cross-sectional seven-city Homeless Youth Risk and Resilience Survey (HYRRS) was included in the study. HYRRS was a computer-assisted anonymous survey that involved young adults experiencing homelessness aged between 18 and 24 recruited from homeless service agencies, such as outreach programs, drop-in centers, emergency shelters, and transitional living programs. Firearm access, the outcome of interest, was a dichotomous variable depicting whether YWEH currently had “access to a firearm if needed.” Independent variables included lifetime length of homelessness, mental health status, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), street victimization, and intimate partner violence history. A final multivariate logistic regression model covering demographic controls (e.g., age and race) and independent variables that were significant in bivariate analysis (p<.05) was constructed.

Results

Over 22.6% of YWEH expressed having access to a firearm when in need of one. The average age among YWEH was 20.5 years old (SD=2.0); racial minorities comprised 85% of our respondents, with close to 40% of YWEH identified as LGBQ+. Consistent with previous literature, street victimization (75.5%), intimate partner violence history (38.9%), and survival sex (25.2%) involvement were prevalent among our respondents.

The final multivariate model suggested that ACEs score (OR= 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1, 1.3) and street victimization (OR= 2.7; 95% CI: 1.2, 6.1) were both positively associated with odds of firearm access among YWEH. Contrary to public perceptions, but accordant with previous research, mental health status was not significantly associated with YWEH’s firearm access.

Conclusions and Implications

Compared to young women with stable housing, a high rate of WYEH in our study reported easy access to a firearm (18% vs. 22.6%). As the association between firearm access and firearm violence exposure is well established, research and further interventions focusing on potential firearm violence exposure among YWEH are warranted.

Findings from this study also underscore the significant roles early and ongoing traumatic experiences may play in YWEH’s firearm access. YWEH with traumatic experiences may seek firearms as a mean of protection and thus ensure their ready access to a firearm. Trauma-informed care that not only addresses YWEH’s past trauma exposure but at the same time rebuilds the sense of safety and security may be critical for interventions aiming to address YWEH’s firearm violence exposure via firearm access reduction.