1. Research Purpose, Contents and Methods

A. Purpose of Study
This study aims to empirically investigate features of homeless as a ‘boundary being’ through in-depth interview with them. The perspective of this study is not tilted neither to the view which sees homeless people as a group of potential criminals nor to the one which see them as victims of crime. Accordingly the basic purpose of this study falls on finding the inter-relations between homeless as a criminal and one as a victim of crime. In addition, this study seeks policy implication for the homeless which overcome those pre-existing solutions from conflicting policies.

B. Contents of Study
Based on contents analysis about previous studies on homeless and crime, the definition of homeless, present situation of the homeless, citizens’ perspectives on homeless, the causes of homeless, deviant behavior of homeless, and problems of victimization of homeless are theoretically reviewed on the standpoint of social exclusion and inclusion.
Concrete survey questions include general features of homeless(gender, age, duration of being homeless), present situation of homeless(methods of solving room and board, mental and physical condition, dependency on medicine or alcohol), deviant behavior and crime, victimization of crime, identity and self-confidence, attitudes toward revitalization, etc.

C. Research Methods
This study is based on in-depth interview with 203 homeless people who are sampled from 7 largest cities in Korea based on non-probability sampling method. The interviews were held from the early July to mid-August.

2. Analysis of Data

A. General Features of Homeless
Respondents’ age distribution shows that 40s-50s old comprise three quarters\ of all. The average duration of their being homeless is 4.5 years. Those of respondents with the duration of over 1 year to 3 years composed 30 percent of all which is the largest group.
Sixty eight percent of the respondents answer they sleep on street while meals are offered free by social service facilities. Two thirds of them are suffered by mental or physical unhealthy conditions. Among the 203 respondents, 122(60 percent) are dependent on alcohol, which is quite high rate.
Most of the homeless people(about 95 percent) answer they suppress their minds although they face anger. Three percent answer they shout when they feel angry. Only 5 respondents answer they break things or hit other people in that situation.

B. Deviant Behavior by Homeless
Sixty five percent of respondents answer they have done deviant behavior including crime, while thirty three percent was never involved in deviant behavior. But over sixty percent of deviant behaviors done by those who answered they did are the elementary level ones such as subway free-riding when they move to take meals, urination on street, drinking and making noises, etc. Twenty four percent of them took small amount of money from passengers. Eleven percent was involved in violence such as fighting with other people and another four percent(6 persons) thieved money or things from other homeless people. Therefore, about ten percent(21 p/203 p) of respondents was involved in criminal activities such as theft or physical fighting.
Among those homeless who committed deviant behavior since they became homeless, fifty three percent answered they feel guilty of consciousness. The reasons of feeling guilty split into two. Sixty percent of them felt ashamed and forty percent felt it bad as they did it because of alcohol. Most of those who answered they didn’t feel ashamed think they had to be involved in deviant behavior just to survive.
Only ten percent of those who never involved in deviant behavior before answered they also thought about committing crime.
Forty percent think homeless people committed crime only to survive. Thirty eight percent turn the reason for alcoholism.
Twenty one percent answered they have witnessed sexual abuse toward other female homeless.
Eighteen percent have thought going to prison would better than sleeping on street. As a reason for thinking like that forty two percent of those answered it can solve basic meals and sleeping. Twenty seven percent have thought it to avoid hunger and cold during winter season.

C. Victimization of Homeless
Homeless people often aware the problems that they become a victim of crime. The firstly ranked problem is a verbal abuse from citizens. Two thirds of them answered that is the matter. Fifty nine percent answered the prejudice of citizens is a problem. These results show that the homeless suffer from victimization sentiments in their everyday interaction with other citizens. More harsher law enforcement by police for them and open exposure of meal serving on street are additional problems for which more than half of the respondents feel as problems.

D. Identity of Homeless
The respondents are asked how they feel for the glance of other citizens toward homeless. Forty four percent answered they felt no problem although they felt embezzlement at the beginning period of being homeless. Twenty six percent still feel uneasiness because of negative staring of citizens. Sixteen percent answered they were not aware of others and another fifteen percent felt anger for the treatment of ordinary citizens.
Eighty four percent of the respondents think they do have human rights to be protected, but two percent answered the discrimination to homeless is taken for granted.
Fifty four percent of the respondents answered they themselves are responsible for becoming homeless, while twenty two percent thought the responsibility is on the part of society. Twenty five percent answered the responsibility rest on themselves and society half and half.
Thirty three percent think they escaped from society while twenty two percent of them think it is society which excludes them.

E. Will of Revitalization by Homeless
Sixty percent of respondents are trying something to escape from homeless situation. The highest proportion of them(68.0%) work as part-time laborer on a daily basis as much as possible. Some(14.8%) earns money through collecting reusable goods from garbages. Only fourteen percent of respondent are receiving welfare program from government.
They were asked what was their priority needs and hope to be solved at present. Their answer was ranked in succession (1) securing private space for sleep and meals(39.4%) (2) securing employment(35.0%) (3) recovering from bad health(13.8%). Eight percent hoped to be able to take care of family
again.
Fifty seven percent of respondents do not want to get into shelter, which is higher proportion than those who wants to(42.4%). The reasons for not hoping to be in shelter are asked for 116 homeless who didn’t want to go.
Thirty five percent did not want because of lack of freedom in shelters. Seventeen percent complaint about deteriorated physical condition of shelters.
Thirteen percent hesitated to go to shelters because of other member’s violent behavior or fear of theft which often happen inside the shelters.

3. Policy Implication

The homeless policy has to be changed from ‘exclusion’ to ‘integration’. On the other hand, the application of law for them should be transferred from ‘integration’ to ‘distinction’.
The identity of homeless investigated through in-depth interview is analyzed as inferiority based on humiliation and despair, lack of will, etc. Unlike the general perspective to see homeless as potential criminal, their actual involvement in crime or desire to be involved in criminal activities is quite low. On the other hand, it is a real situation that they are exposed as a victim of various crime. Therefore, it is necessary for them to be recovered from alcoholism and physical unhealthyness to be re-included in a society.
Their lack of will to be revitalized is another important matter to be recovered.