Wherever I went, I was not good”: The story of a youth from a child protection program to homelessness, outside of organizations

Abstract

This research is original given the nature of its subject—youth homelessness; its theoretical framework—the sociology of ruptures; its methodological field—street ethnography, recorded interviews, contact maintained over a period of four years, use of Facebook. Stéphane is one of the most excluded homeless youths. For a long time, he has lived outside of organizations, on the street, even if he is occasionally hosted by an association, partners, or friends. He repeats the painful story of his childhood. He weaves and undoes destructive, distended, unsatisfactory, pathogenic, fragile, violent, and chaotic links with his nuclear family. He reproduces these links with other authorities and adults he encounters: extended family, friends, partners, teachers, social workers, employers, organizations. His social trajectory is marked by suffering, violence, loneliness, vulnerability, narcissistic injuries, stigmas, exclusions, and failures, resulting in the accumulation of ruptures with organizations.