A Political Economic Model of Homeless Services

ABSTRACT

Despite attempts to end homelessness in the United States occurring over the past 10 years, homelessness has only been reduced by about 10%. This article introduces a theoretical model for why some individuals have gained housing and other types of services while others have not. This model incorporates both the political economy theory and the street-level bureaucracy theory to explain service gaps for homeless individuals. Using this model, this article explains major policies affecting agencies which serve the homeless. It also uses current research to explain how practitioners manage these constraints. Recommendations for social service practitioners are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Political economy
• access to housing
• homeless
• discretion

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Yeheskel “Zeke” Hasenfeld and Eve Garrow for input during early stages of manuscript preparation.

Additional information

Funding

Review preparation supported by University of California - University Community Research Grant (Yeheskel Hasenfeld). Funding sources had no further role in study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, writing of this manuscript, or in the decision to submit this manuscript for publication.