Factors associated with violence against persons experiencing homelessness in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state, Brazil

The daily lives of people living on the streets are marred by numerous forms of violence, due to the conditions of social, economic and housing vulnerability to which they are subject. A cross-sectional, quantitative study of 356 homeless people in Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais) was conducted between August 2021 and March 2022 to identify the types of violence suffered by homeless people and to examine associated factors. Data analysis was by Poisson regression with robust variance. Having a partner (PR = 1.748) and no income (PR = 1.441) were associated, respectively, with increases in the prevalence of structural and overall violence, while being male (PR = 0.547) contributed to less structural violence. Use of shelters was associated with higher levels of interpersonal (PR = 1.528), collective (PR = 1.487), structural (PR = 1.695) and self-inflicted (PR = 2.2) violence. The results expose the violence at shelters and demonstrate that inequalities are a determinant in the process creating vulnerability to violence.