The Government's homeless strategy is failing vulnerable young people, a senior Trinity College academic claimed today.
Dr Paula Mayock, who documented the lives of 40 young homeless Dubliners over the last three years, warned many felt criminalised when asking gardai for a bed or shelter.
All were aged between 12 and 22 and most began using heroin after ending up on the streets.
Dr Mayock noted homeless people seeking emergency shelter in the evenings must report to a Garda station and wait, at times several hours, for an out-of-hours social worker.
But she said this often left young, vulnerable people feeling intimidated and criminalised.
"They don't see law enforcement as a place they would get respite. Young people see these places as punishment rather than a place for care," she said.
The research detailed in 'Lives in Crisis: Homeless Young People' was compiled by Dr Mayock and Dr Eoin O'Sullivan of Trinity College.
It found young homeless people suffered traumatic childhoods - dealing with parental illness, death, family conflict, drug or alcohol misuse and violence or abuse.
Most of the 40 homeless people grew up in poor neighbourhoods and experienced hardship and instability at home. Sixteen had a history of living in state care or residential settings for young offenders.
Nine reported persistent disagreement and conflict with parents or caregivers during their early to mid-teenage years as a result of drink, drugs and everyday troubles such as staying out late.
The study found they were extremely vulnerable to ill health including asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia and injuries such as broken bones. And drug use was extremely high with half using heroin.
Dr Mayock said the Government's Youth Homeless Strategy had a heavy emphasis on prevention but early insufficient focus on early intervention."
She said there was evidence suggesting some of the existing interventions may lead to a descent into a subculture of homelessness.
She said the lack of provision for 18-25 year olds is a particular problem and called for the Government to consider providing city-wide accommodation with training schemes linked to FAS.