sing them to be characterized as attention-seeking help-rejectors. Youths who engage in risky behavior such as drug or alcohol use or who have multiple sex partners (including youth prostitutes) are often the least likely to utilize homeless shelters or to access health services. Consequently, these homeless young people, who are most in need of health services, may be the least likely to obtain those services.
DeRosa, Montgomery, Kipke, Iverson, and Unger (1999) conducted a study to identify the natural service utilization practices and perceptions of homeless youth. Survey and qualitative data were collected from an ethnically diverse sample of 342 Los Angeles homeless youth between the ages of 13 and 23. Results indicated that drop-in centers and shelters were the most commonly used services (78 and 40 percent of subjects respectively) while 22 percent used medical services, 10 percent used substance abuse treatment, and 9 percent used mental health services.
...