ABSTRACT
This chapter describes how men and women with severe attachment difficulties in early life often struggle to internalize a sense of sanctuary or home. It discusses the link between disruption and disturbance in early life, later homelessness, and the increased risk of violent relationships, with reference to the seminal work of John Bowlby and attachment models of development. The chapter outlines empirical data that identifies the increased risk that homeless people face of experiencing violence, and highlights the increased vulnerability of homeless females to suffering violence within intimate relationships. It explores the development of cycles of violence, homelessness and re-traumatization. The chapter focuses on the experience of homeless women, who are much more frequently the victims of sexual as well as other violence by their partners. It finally explores legal concepts of the body as property, the symbolic meaning of home, the social problems of homelessness and its role in the establishment of violent relationships.
